Marine planning

Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009

The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (MCAA 2009) seeks to improve management and increase protection of the marine environment and improve recreational access to coasts. MCAA 2009 created a framework for managing and protecting the marine environment. It:

1. •

   established the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to produce marine plans, administer marine environmental licensing, manage marine fisheries and enforce environmental protection laws

2. •

   introduced a system of marine planning setting out long-term objectives for the marine area in a Marine Policy Statement and detailed marine plans setting spatial policy at a more local level

3. •

   introduced a streamlined, transparent and consistent system for licensing marine developments providing, as far as possible, a one-stop shop for each project

4. •

   introduced a flexible new mechanism for the designation of Marine Conservation Zones which together with European Marine Sites forms a representative network of Marine Protected Areas

5. •

   strengthened the management of marine fisheries

6. •

   reformed and modernised powers for the licensing and management of migratory and freshwater fisheries

7. •

   streamlined and modernised enforcement powers including the introduction of a common set of powers