Home / Sources / Select Committees / Environmental Audit Committee / Governing the marine environment
Index live
Select Committee · Environmental Audit Committee

Governing the marine environment

Status: Open Opened: 16 Dec 2024 18 recommendations 10 conclusions 1 report

The Environmental Audit Committee is undertaking an inquiry on governing the marine environment, which will focus on the UK's environmental obligations under marine treaties and how the UK is delivering on them, as well as the Government's strategy for marine planning and protection in its domestic waters. Read the call for evidence for more information … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
2nd Report - Governing the marine environment HC 551 5 Jun 2025 28 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

5 items
15 Conclusion 2nd Report - Governing the marine envir… Accepted

Cessation of funding for Lyme Bay undermines crucial long-term marine data collection.

Long-term data collection is critical to scientific analysis of the effectiveness of marine protection measures such as whole-site protections and their impact on ecosystem recovery. We are concerned that funding for Lyme Bay has stopped, and this will lead to a gap in long-term data collection and undermine marine conservation … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees on the value of Lyme Bay research and stated that Defra is in discussions with Natural England to continue the long-term monitoring of the site.
Read full response →
21 Recommendation 2nd Report - Governing the marine envir… Accepted

Coordinate departments and Crown Estate to site offshore wind away from sensitive areas.

We recommend the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) coordinate with The Crown Estate to ensure that offshore wind developments are developed away from the most sensitive and biologically diverse sites. This should be done by clearly setting … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees, stating that a strategic steer has already been provided to The Crown Estate to avoid environmentally sensitive areas for offshore wind development, and this guidance will be incorporated into the Marine Delivery Routemap.
Read full response →
23 Conclusion 2nd Report - Governing the marine envir… Accepted

Government failure to legislate for ratifying Global Oceans Treaty is disappointing.

As a result of climate change, species are increasingly migrating into the high seas and global oceans. The movement of marine species beyond national jurisdictions poses significant challenges to conservation and sustainable management efforts highlighting the need for effective governance and protection of these areas. We are disappointed that the … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government stated its complete commitment to ratifying the BBNJ Agreement and has committed to introducing the necessary legislation by the end of the year to implement it, ahead of ratification.
Read full response →
27 Conclusion 2nd Report - Governing the marine envir… Accepted

UK Government funding for Overseas Territories marine conservation is critical for global protection and local empowerment.

The UK Government’s funding for programmes that enable local communities in Overseas Territories (OTs) to deliver marine conservation initiatives is critical for global marine protection, given the vast marine areas that are part of the UK’s OTs, and for empowering local communities. It is vital for the UK Government to … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees, confirming its continued support for UK Overseas Territories through programmes like Darwin Plus and the Blue Belt Programme, which received increased funding for 2025/26, demonstrating its commitment to marine protection and leadership.
Read full response →
28 Recommendation 2nd Report - Governing the marine envir… Accepted

Publish plan for continued and enhanced marine conservation funding in Overseas Territories.

The UK Government should commit to continued and enhanced funding to deliver marine conservation initiatives through its Biodiversity Challenge Funds and Blue Belt Programme, which have delivered excellent marine conservation objectives globally. If the Government is to continue to prioritise climate action and marine conservation in Overseas Territories, despite cuts … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepted the recommendation, confirming that Defra has secured multi-year funding beyond March 2026 for marine conservation initiatives in Overseas Territories and has increased funding for the Blue Belt Programme to £8.5 million for 2025/26.
Read full response →

Oral evidence sessions

4 sessions
Date Witnesses
2 Apr 2025 Emma Hardy MP · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Helen Mulvein OBE · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Michelle Willis · Marine Management Organisation, Mike Rowe · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Olivia Thomas · The Crown Estate, Ronan O’Hara · Crown Estate Scotland, The Rt Hon. the Baroness Chapman of Darlington · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office View ↗
5 Mar 2025 Andrew Bell · UNESCO Biosphere, North Devon, Benj Sykes · Ørsted UK, Jacques Villemot · Rewilding Britain, Mark Russell · The Children’s Society, Mark Simmonds · The British Ports Association, Mike Cohen · National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) View ↗
29 Jan 2025 Dr Gemma Harper OBE · Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Gareth Cunningham · Marine Conservation Society, Jennifer Godwin · Seabed User and Developer Group, Professor Heather Koldewey · Zoological Society of London, Professor Melanie Austen · University of Plymouth View ↗
8 Jan 2025 Alan Evans · National Oceanography Centre, David Tomaney · UK Hydrographic Office, Dr Michaela Schratzberger · Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), Professor Malgosia Fitzmaurice · Queen Mary University of London, Professor Philippa Webb · University of Oxford, Professor Richard Barnes · University of Lincoln View ↗

Who gave evidence

24 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Alan Evans · Head of Marine Policy National Oceanography Centre 1
Andrew Bell · Director UNESCO Biosphere, North Devon 1
Benj Sykes · Head of Ørsted UK Ørsted UK 1
David Tomaney · Chief Data Officer UK Hydrographic Office 1
Dr Gemma Harper OBE · Chief Executive Joint Nature Conservation Committee 1
Dr Michaela Schratzberger · Science Director (Environment) Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) 1
Emma Hardy MP · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister … Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 1
Gareth Cunningham · Director of Conservation and Policy Marine Conservation Society 1
Helen Mulvein OBE · Deputy Director for Ocean Policy, and Legal Couns… Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office 1
Jacques Villemot · Marine Rewilding Lead Rewilding Britain 1
Jennifer Godwin · Chief Executive Officer Seabed User and Developer Group 1
Mark Russell · Chief Executive The Children’s Society 1
Mark Simmonds · Director of Policy The British Ports Association 1
Michelle Willis · CEO Marine Management Organisation 1
Mike Cohen · CEO National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) 1
Mike Rowe · Director for Marine and Fisheries Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 1
Olivia Thomas · Head of Planning and Technical The Crown Estate 1
Professor Heather Koldewey · Lead, Bertarelli Foundation’s Marine Science Prog… Zoological Society of London 1
Professor Malgosia Fitzmaurice · Chair of Public International Law Queen Mary University of London 1
Professor Melanie Austen · Professor of Ocean and Society University of Plymouth 1
Professor Philippa Webb · Professor of Public International Law University of Oxford 1
Professor Richard Barnes · Professor of International Law University of Lincoln 1
Ronan O’Hara · Chief Executive Crown Estate Scotland 1
The Rt Hon. the Baroness Chapman of Darlington · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Latin Ame… Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office 1

Correspondence

6 letters
DateDirectionTitle
16 Oct 2025 To cttee Letter from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs relating to …
9 Sep 2025 From cttee Letter to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs relati…
26 Jun 2025 To cttee Letter from the Minister for the Indo-Pacific, FCDO, responding to the 6 June 2…
6 Jun 2025 To cttee Joint letter from the Chairs of the Environmental Audit Committee and the Inter…
6 Mar 2025 To cttee Letter from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Environment, Food & …
12 Feb 2025 To cttee Letter from the Chair of the Committee to the Secretary of State for Environmen…