Recommendation 21

HM Government · verbatim extract Accepted

42. As referenced in the Committee’s report, Defra recognises that marine spatial squeeze is a key strategic issue for all sectors, including fishing. The need to ensure that the sea space is developed in a more strategic manner, accounting for the multitude of different and growing users and uses, was the driver behind Defra establishing the cross government Marine Spatial Prioritisation Programme (MSPri). 43. The MSPri Programme brought together departments with a marine interest, including the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), Ministry of Defence (MoD), Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Transport. Through the MSPri Programme departments considered, for example, what data was available to inform spatial analysis and how to improve co-location opportunities. Then, between November 2024 and June 2025, Defra and DESNZ jointly led a process to identify the key constraints and issues associated with future offshore wind developments, working with the departments involved in the MSPri Programme. 44. The aim of this process was to provide a steer to The Crown Estate (TCE) on the important areas in the English Sea for delivering Government ambitions, including the success of marine sectors such as fisheries and the environment. 45. Departments identified areas that were important for their sectors, supported by data, evidence and, where possible, stakeholder engagement. For Defra, this included sharing information on important areas for the UK and non-UK fishing sector and for the environment 46. Collectively the information provided on the sectoral areas of importance by the different departments informed the steer given by the Government to TCE. TCE reflected the steer from MSPri into their Marine Delivery Routemap and subsequently the areas for their future offshore wind leasing in Round 6. 47. As a result of the Government’s steer and the engagement that TCE have conducted since receiving it, additional areas of importance to sectors, including fishing, have already been excluded. As spatial refinement continues, TCE have been engaging both the UK and non-UK fishing industry. Further information as to how TCE have engaged UK fishers is included in case study 3. 48. The way in which TCE have considered the Government’s MSPri steer is illustrated in Annex I, Figure I of our response. This map shows that areas denoted by red circles have been avoided in TCE’s refined AoS for Round 6. These red circles represent areas rated as important through the MSPri Programme for the MoD, high-density shipping traffic, benthic MPAs or bird foraging and breeding areas. The red circles can represent one or more sectors. 49. While TCE has been able to avoid areas identified as important to different sectors for Round 6, additional space may need to be leased in future to meet clean energy ambitions. It is recognised that identifying viable locations will become increasingly complex. This is illustrated in Annex I, Figure I, where the priority areas for the medium-term overlap with identified MSPri constraints (the blue areas with red and black dots). If future focus shifts to these medium-term areas, TCE is committed to continue engaging with the Government and the fishing sector, alongside other interested sectors, as work progresses and more challenging trade-offs could be required. 50. Further to being used in TCE’s refinement work for future offshore wind leasing, the steer provided from MSPri will be incorporated into TCE’s Marine Delivery Routemap, which shows current and future views of all marine sectors and nature in a holistic way. 55. The Government understands the Committee’s call for a Sea Use Framework. However, we believe the structures to fulfil the role of a Sea Use Framework are already in place. These include: a. Marine plans, which are statutory plans produced by the MMO to guide the use and development of the English marine area. They ensure that the right activities happen in the right place, at the right time, and in the right way. b. National Policy Statements, which compliment marine plans and provide the primary policy framework for decision-making on Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, such as offshore wind. They guide the MMO and the Secretary of State in the examination and determination of applications, such as offshore wind developments. c. The Marine Spatial Prioritisation programme, which provides policy direction on sea use. d. TCE’s Marine Delivery Routemap which dynamically models and maps potential use scenarios for the seabed to help with planning and deliver policy. It also reflects wider key marine policies such as the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan and marine plans. 65. Defra and other Government departments with a marine interest recognise the importance of ensuring that strategic spatial decisions are taken when it comes to how the marine environment is used. Defra intends to continue to use MSPri and existing structures to work across Government, with the MMO, TCE and others, including fishers, to do this.