Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
2nd Report - Governing the marine environment
Environmental Audit Committee
HC 551
Published 5 June 2025
Recommendations
2
Accepted in Part
Designate a lead department for marine governance and policy coordination by January 2026.
Recommendation
Given the lack of coordination, we recommend that one department must act as the lead authority for marine governance and the coordination of marine policy. This department should be responsible for engaging with other departments and bodies, including The Crown …
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Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, stating that Defra is the lead department for marine planning and has led the cross-government Marine Spatial Prioritisation programme. However, they reject the idea of a single department having ultimate responsibility for all balancing and prioritisation decisions, noting that marine plans and national policy statements guide such decisions.
4
Accepted in Part
Strengthen stakeholder engagement across all marine policy areas within Defra.
Recommendation
Engaging stakeholders in a meaningful way is essential to ensure that decisions are inclusive, transparent, and responsive to both environmental and societal needs. For engagement to be effective, it must occur through appropriate forums, begin early in the decision-making process, …
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Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, stating that stakeholder engagement is highly valued and central to policy delivery, with significant engagement already undertaken. They commit to reviewing how they can further improve engagement across all levels.
5
Accepted in Part
Develop and publish a comprehensive stakeholder engagement framework for marine decision-making by January 2025.
Recommendation
We recommend that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) develops a comprehensive framework for engaging a diverse range of stakeholders, particularly coastal communities and underrepresented voices, early-on in marine decision-making and outline the responsible organisation for leading …
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Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, stating that stakeholder engagement is highly valued and already central to policy delivery. They commit to reviewing how they can further improve engagement but do not commit to developing and publishing a comprehensive new framework with specified elements by the recommended deadline.
9
Accepted in Part
Ask DEFRA to clarify Marine Spatial Prioritisation Programme objectives and timeline for outputs
Recommendation
We ask the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to clarify the objectives and planned timeline for outputs from the Marine Spatial Prioritisation Programme and explain how it contributes to the Department’s aims for “clean, healthy, safe, productive …
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Government Response Summary
The government partially accepted the recommendation, clarifying MSPri's objectives and current focus on guiding offshore wind development and outlining the next phase to improve colocation. However, it explicitly stated that updating the UK Marine Policy Statement, as recommended for the planning framework, is not considered a priority.
11
Accepted in Part
Call on DEFRA to publish assessment on impacts of marine spatial use changes
Recommendation
We call on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to publish an assessment on the impact of changes in marine spatial use on specific sectors. Affected sectors and associated stakeholders should be central to the assessment and …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledged impacts of sea use on sectors, referenced existing assessments through UKMS Part One and OSPAR, and mentioned ongoing stakeholder engagement for SSEP and MSPri. It also highlighted a £360 million 'Fishing & Coastal Growth Fund' to support the fishing industry's transition, leading to a partial agreement.
12
Accepted in Part
Publish a plan for a just transition for marine sectors impacted by changes
Recommendation
The Government should publish a plan to secure a just transition for those affected by changes through targeted support, skills development, identification of long-term opportunities and associated funding. The support should reflect both traditional and emerging marine sectors, to ensure …
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Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, committing to support the fishing industry's viability with the £360m Fishing & Coastal Growth Fund. However, it disagrees that a separate "plan for a just transition" is required, stating it will work directly with the industry instead.
14
Accepted in Part
Call on Government to ban seabed damaging practices within offshore Marine Protected Areas
Recommendation
We call on the Government to ban seabed damaging practices, such as bottom trawling, dredging and mining for aggregates, within offshore Marine Protected Area boundaries. (Recommendation, Paragraph 62)
Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, stating it already has byelaws in 60% of MPAs and commenced consultation to ban bottom trawling in an additional 41 MPAs. However, it rejects whole-site bans, instead opting for targeted restrictions based on specific features, and manages other activities through licensing.
20
Accepted in Part
Maintain Marine Protected Area status and expand network to cover vulnerable sites.
Recommendation
We call on the Government to maintain the status of designated Marine Protected Areas and ensure the expansion of the MPA network to cover vulnerable sites of comparable biodiversity to maximise its effectiveness. (Recommendation, Paragraph 77)
Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, stating that 40% of English waters are already designated as MPAs, meeting the 30by30 target, and their priority is effective management. They are reviewing the MPA network and will consider the role of further HPMAs, but disagree with setting specific HPMA targets.
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
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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.
24
Accepted in Part
Set clear timeline for introducing legislation to ratify Global Oceans Treaty by September 2025.
Recommendation
We urge the Government to set a clear timeline for introducing the necessary primary legislation to ratify the Global Oceans / High Seas Treaty to send a clear signal of prioritising global marine protection. The timeline for ratifying this should …
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Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, stating it is committed to ratifying the BBNJ Agreement and will introduce the necessary legislation by the end of the year. This timeline is later than the committee's requested ratification by 20 September 2025 and it does not explicitly commit to publishing a timeline within a month.
26
Accepted in Part
Require Government to publish its plan for aligning policies with the ITLOS marine pollution opinion.
Recommendation
We call on the Government to set out how it will align its policies with the advisory opinion issued by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Seas, including recognising greenhouse gas emissions as marine pollution and implementing measures …
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Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, stating it carefully considers the Tribunal’s Opinion and details ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including an 81% target by 2035 and the Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy. It does not commit to a specific plan for aligning policies with the ITLOS opinion or publishing its position within two months.
Conclusions (2)
13
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
We were concerned by Government failure to effectively manage gaps in the network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Deficient management and gaps in the network are allowing damaging activities to take place within MPA boundaries. (Conclusion, Paragraph 61)
Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, stating it is taking action to prevent damaging activities within MPAs. They highlight that 40% of English seas are MPAs, 60% have fishing byelaws, and a consultation is underway to ban bottom trawling in 41 more MPAs, though they will not implement whole-site bans.
19
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
Nature recovery and restoration is a long-term process. It is of utmost importance that sites dedicated for marine protection maintain their status to allow habitats and ecosystems to recover and be effectively protected. 52 Whilst the expansion of offshore renewable energy development, like offshore wind farms, are critical for net …
Government Response Summary
Defra recognizes the role that maintaining effective MPAs plays in conservation goals, and around 40% of waters are already designated as MPAs. The government disagrees with setting a specific target for HPMAs in Secretary of State waters but commits to designating new or extending existing MPAs to compensate for offshore wind development.