Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 22
22
Accepted in Part
Direct Marine Recovery Fund compensatory measures to priority nature restoration initiatives.
Recommendation
We recommend that compensatory measures through the Marine Recovery Fund (MRF) should be directed to priority areas, particularly nature restoration initiatives, to ensure long-term nature recovery. (Recommendation, Paragraph 79) International Marine Treaties and Global Marine Protection
Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, stating the Marine Recovery Fund (MRF) will deliver strategic compensatory measures for offshore wind impacts, and Defra is consulting on reforms to these measures via a Statutory Instrument and guidance.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
The MRF will function as the key mechanism for delivering strategic compensatory measures (SCMs) to enable offshore wind developers to discharge the requirement to provide environmental compensation for unavoidable adverse impacts of their projects to an MPA. SCMs are likely to have a greater ecological impact than those delivered at a project level and the MRF will provide access to measures that are not directly available to OFW developers (e.g. MPA designation). In addition, Defra is also consulting on reforms to compensatory measures to introduce further flexibility around environmental compensation for offshore wind and provide clarity to developers and regulators on compensation requirements, whilst delivering for nature and the marine environment. Defra proposes these reforms will be delivered through a Statutory Instrument and associated guidance. The Government therefore partially agrees with this recommendation.