Marine: UK marine policy
The Government's vision for the marine environment is for clean healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas. To help deliver this vision Defra are preparing a Marine Bill. The draft Marine Bill will be published in 2006.
Background to UK marine policy
The scientific evidence generated from our Science and Monitoring activities, such as the State of the Seas report, helps us to guide and advise in the development of policy for the management of the marine environment.
Below are a selection of important documents which have fed into policy.
"Seas of Change"- Consultation Paper
See www.defra.gov.uk/environment/consult/seas/index.htm
This is a follow-up consultation paper of the Government's first Marine Stewardship Report - "Safeguarding Our Seas" (1 May 2002), and was launched on 14 November 2002. Its aim was to help deliver our vision for the marine environment.
The paper covers areas including
- How to develop a practical application of the ecosystem-based approach
- How to involve stakeholders in the development of coastal and marine policy
- The scope and content of future reports
- The consultation procedure
A summary of responses (200 KB) was published on 16 October 2003 alongside the official Government response which was published on the 21 October 2003.
Marine Stewardship Report - "Safeguarding Our Seas"
See www.defra.gov.uk/environment/water/marine/uk/stewardship/
The Government's first Marine Stewardship Report - "Safeguarding Our Seas" was published on 1 May 2002 (News Release) and sets out our vision as "clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas".
Underpinned by the principles of sustainable development, integrated management and the conservation of biological diversity, the report outlines how we aim to adopt an ecosystem-based approach to marine management.
Past achievements and progress made are described whilst new ideas and initiatives are formulated in order to turn our vision into reality.
Cleaner Seas Report
This reports contains information prepared in 1998 but has since been superseded by the Marine Stewardship Report - "Safeguarding Our Seas" report. A copy is available at www.defra.gov.uk/environment/water/marine/uk/policy/cleanerseas.
Government's Strategic Review on Diffuse Water Pollution from Agriculture
Information relating to diffuse water pollution from agriculture and it's impacts on coastal and marine waters can be found at www.defra.gov.uk/farm/environment/water/csf/index.htm.
Obtaining copies of reports
Printed copies of all of these reports are available from Defra Publications. Please call 08459 556000 or email defra@iforcegroup.com for further details.
Page last modified:
30 August 2005
Page published: 01 March 2005