Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Rejected
Urge Ministers to issue revised Marine Policy Statement by January 2026 reflecting pressures
Recommendation
We urge Ministers to issue a revised Marine Policy Statement no later than January 2026. The updated statement should reflect the current and evolving pressures on the marine environment, clearly outline the Government’s priorities for marine usage, and set out by which decisions on the balance between marine exploitation and marine protection will be made. (Recommendation, Paragraph 34) 50
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation to issue a revised Marine Policy Statement by January 2026, citing that it would be too resource-intensive, parts are superseded by existing commitments (no new oil and gas licenses), and they are developing a Sustainable Ocean Plan by 2027 instead.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
Defra recognises the role that the Marine Policy Statement (MPS) plays in setting a high-level context for marine planning and the development of marine plans. The key documents which guide spatial planning decisions are marine plans, which reflect both national and local policies, and the national policy statements, such as those for energy. Defra is aware of concerns regarding the age of the MPS, which was published in 2011 under a previous Government and includes, for example, support for oil and gas development. However, the current Government’s overarching commitment to no new oil and gas licences means that this aspect of the MPS no longer carries any practical effect. Updating the UK MPS would also be very resource intensive for all governments involved and would take much longer than six months. Instead our resource and effort is deployed to ensuring we take a more strategic approach to marine spatial planning, developing colocation solutions and working with MMO on the replacement of the East Marine Plan. Plus, as part of the UK’s membership to the Leader-led High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (Ocean Panel), the UK has committed to deliver a Sustainable Ocean Plan (SOP) by 2027. As part of this plan, Government will outline how it will manage its ocean area, advancing long-term economic and social development, while simultaneously promoting the health of marine ecosystems. In terms of the key pressures on the marine environment, these are already identified in the UK Marine Strategy (UKMS), which is reviewed and is updated every six years. The Government therefore disagrees with this recommendation to update the UKMPS and that it is possible to do so in 6 months.