Recommendation 22

HM Government · verbatim extract Rejected

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). The Marine Spatial Prioritisation Programme and resulting steer to The Crown Estate 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. Case study 3: Engagement with fishers and producer organisations on Round 6 offshore wind leasing Context Between 12 and 14 May 2026, The Crown Estate (TCE) met fishing communities in Bridlington, Whitby and North Shields to refine Areas of Search (AoS) for Round 6 offshore wind leasing. Approach These drop-in sessions built on TCE’s autumn 2025 roadshows (where they met with over 50 individual quayside fishers in the Southwest and Northeast coasts of England and Wales) which introduced the AoS for Round 6. The May 2026 drop-ins explained how the earlier larger AoS had been refined, including in response to fishers’ feedback, and provided an opportunity to gather further local evidence, including plotter data, on areas of importance to fishing activity. Defra officials attended the North Shields engagement meetings to hear views directly from fishers on offshore wind development, wider fleet pressures and available data. Impact • Strengthened relationships with the local fishers and producer organisations giving fishers and fishing industry representatives the opportunity to feed into spatial design processes with their evidence at an earlier stage than for previous leasing rounds. • Reassured stakeholders that TCE is listening to concerns and responding to feedback by taking into account key fishing areas in Refined AoS for Round 6. • Gave Defra direct insight into fishers’ concerns, operational pressures and local priorities regarding both offshore wind and wider topics. Next steps • TCE will continue to work with stakeholders, with the next engagement for fisheries representatives planned for summer 2026, where TCE intend to present the Potential Development Areas Zones. • Insights from the visit have been shared with colleagues, and Defra will continue to seek opportunities for in-person engagement with fishing communities on the quayside. 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