Recommendation 27

HM Government Deferred

The Government agrees with this recommendation to further explore cable protection zones. We recognise the potential utility of the Government creating such zones in areas of high cable concentration, where it has the jurisdiction to do so. We are considering the extent of existing powers to designate protected zones at sea as part of our comprehensive review of legislation concerning subsea cable infrastructure. It should be noted that these powers are limited outside of the Territorial Sea. In the Exclusive Economic Zone the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provides that coastal States may create “safety zones” around “artificial islands, installations and structures”, but this does not include subsea cables. We also acknowledge the challenges posed in implementing cable protection zones, due to the highly congested nature of the UK’s marine environment. The UK’s extensive cable network and varied landing sites add a further layer of complexity that must be considered in assessing this proposal. Work has already been undertaken through The Crown Estate’s Marine Delivery Routemap, in collaboration with DSIT, to identify potential future areas of cable concentration, which we will factor into our assessment of the need for, and feasibility of, cable protection zones. We are also engaging with European partners and other international partners—through both bilateral discussions and multilateral forums—to strengthen cooperation on maritime infrastructure protection.