Conference

Securing the Marine and Coastal Environment. New Directions in Maritime Policy in the UK and EU. A Practical Contribution to European Union Maritime Day 2009.

Conference Summary

The last few years have seen major developments in approaches to maritime policy. At EU level there is now a commitment to an Integrated Maritime Policy, a detailed Action Plan and a Roadmap setting out key principles for Maritime Spatial Planning. In the UK the Marine and Coastal Access Bill, which began its parliamentary passage in December 2008, together with Scotland�s Marine Bill marks a fresh approach to policy.

All these initiatives follow long, though active, periods of gestation involving extensive discussion and consultation across a wide range of interests and sectors. Yet although the culmination of much effort, in reality they represent just the starting point for new directions in maritime policy aimed at securing the marine and coastal environment. We have travelled a long way, but the voyage has only just begun.

This Greenwich Forum conference held at the University of Greenwich on 4th June 2009, provided a timely context for discussion of the next steps needed to promote and support maritime policy in the UK and EU.

Session 1 � Marine Spatial Planning � The UK and European Dimension

Belief in the need for integrated, cross-sectoral management of the marine environment underpins policy directions in the EU and in the UK, as also in several other Member States. Spatial planning features in the EU Integrated Maritime Policy. It is central to the proposals in the UK�s Marine and Coastal Access Bill, as also in Scotland�s Marine Bill. How in practice can spatial planning best achieve its objectives?

Keynote Address 1

David Dawson, UK Department for Environment, Environment and Rural Affairs

The Marine Bill � A Look Forward

Keynote Address 2

Haitze Siemers, European Commission, DG Mare

Regional Implementation of the EU Integrated Maritime Policy: Challenges and Opportunities for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea

Session 2 - Neighbours in the Maritime Basin

It has been argued that the appropriate scale for maritime strategy is the 'regional sea' - those regions sharing the same maritime basin. Work is already underway to develop a strategy for the Baltic Sea, while regional organisations such as the North Sea Commission have called for an integrated approach in these areas. What are the implications of the Marine and Coastal Access Bill and the EU Integrated Maritime Policy for regional co-operation?

Iain Shepherd, Marine South East

Enhancing the Environment and Economy through Cross-Border Clustering

Carlos Berrozpe Garcia, European Commission, DG Environment

The integrated management of human activity under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive

Session 3 - The Challenge of Managing Marine Resources

The UK bill, which includes designation of Marine Conservation Zones, introduces a new licensing and enforcement system for the management of marine resources. Ports and harbours, fisheries, aggregate dredgers, recreational services and renewable energy developers are affected. What in practice is needed to make this system provide an open and fair arrangement, to distinguish high from low risk activities, and to balance conservation, energy and resource needs?

Peter Barham, Associated British Ports

Industry�s Role in Managing Marine Resources

Angela Moffat, Natural England

Managing Marine Conservation Zones

Gregory Darling, Gardline Group

The Efficient Use of Ships and Technology in Applying Policy at Sea. Some Real Examples and Suggestions

Peter Winterbottom, Association of Sea Fisheries Committees

Inshore Management After the Marine Bill

Session 4 � Maintaining the Dialogue

Current EU and UK maritime policy has been shaped by public involvement to a hitherto unprecedented extent. In both cases the consultation process indicates the high degree of public interest in the future of the seas and support for a planned approach. Further development of policy and its translation to a local level requires an on-going dialogue with stakeholders, but how best can this be achieved?

Brian Clark, British Marine Federation

The Leisure Maritime Industry�s Experience

Lyndsey Dodds, WWF Cymru

Will we get change from the Bill?

Charles Anglin, British Wind Energy Association

The Marine & Coastal Access Bill- Getting the Right Balance

Keeping Updated on the Marine and Coastal Access Bill

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) published a newsletter on 16th June 2009 giving a status update. Please click here to download a copy.

For further information visit the Defra website:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/marine/legislation/index.htm