Marine planning
The information contained here and as a PDF document ("Implementing Marine Planning", available in the Download section of this page) has been produced as part of the programme of work to establish the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).
It provides a high level overview of Marine Planning for English inshore and offshore waters.
It summarises extensive work done by Defra in consultation with stakeholders in support of the Marine and Coastal Access Act and sets out an early view of how the MMO will approach the implementation of the marine planning responsibilities which the act places on it.
The topics covered will be developed into more detailed statements of policy and practice to form a comprehensive guide to the operation of marine planning in preparation for the MMO assuming responsibility for delivery.
See also: Outline of implementation timetable
The information provided here highlights decisions that have been made and those that remain to be made, and describes an outline timetable for establishing the MMO's marine planning capability and for delivery of marine plans once the MMO is established.
There are two main audiences:
- the MMO implementation teams responsible for developing the policies and principles of marine planning into delivery capability and others involved in delivering the MMO and other provisions of the Marine and Coastal Access Bill
- the major stakeholders in marine planning who need to understand how the implementation work is being taken forward
This forms part of a wider and intensive programme of communication and stakeholder engagement.
Coverage for this work is limited to the areas for which the Secretary of State is the marine plan authority and for which the MMO will have delegated responsibilities (English inshore and off-shore regions).
There will be separate marine plan authorities for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, where different arrangements will apply.