Natural England

Public access to the English coastline took a giant stride forward today (Thursday 3 April) as the Government published plans that will allow Natural England to improve public access to the coast.

The publication of the draft Marine Bill proposes new measures that will bring benefits in the form of improved access to the coast* and Marine Protected Areas.

Speaking about access to the English coastline, Sir Martin Doughty, Chair of Natural England said: “This is a real opportunity to secure both a future for wildlife in and around our seas and give people clear and secure access to our coast for the first time.

“Government has clearly marked its support for a historic right of access to the English coastline and we look forward to making this right a reality. Currently, large sections of the coast lack any secure access rights at all for the public – others just fail to join up properly with each other or are physically unusable.”

The draft Marine Bill’s proposals to create a network of Marine Protected Areas are long awaited by Natural England.

Dr Helen Phillips, Chief Executive of Natural England said: “Through our management and monitoring results from Lundy, we know that highly protected sites like these can make a major contribution to the wildlife in our seas. The seas around England are home to a diverse range of marine habitats whose survival depends greatly on the protection offered by the proposals within the draft Bill.”

Natural England strongly supports the establishment of a network of Marine Conservation Zones. This provides a vital opportunity to protect biodiversity in the seas around England. Natural England will work with partners and stakeholders to identify where these Marine Conservation Zones will be located through a series of four regional projects. One of these projects is currently underway in the South West region, called Finding Sanctuary. The other three are in the development phase.

Natural England also welcomes the opportunity to have a greater say in the management of inshore fisheries and the impacts of fishing on the marine environment by having seats on the new Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities, that will replace the Sea Fisheries Committees.

The draft Bill also outlines plans for a more streamlined licensing system, which should make it easier for Natural England to deliver its advice on the use and protection of marine resources.

The proposals to create a marine planning system will help to deliver an effective, coherent and proactive approach to management of activities that take place in our seas and should provide a more efficient system to protect marine resources in the wider environment.

Notes for editors

For more information please contact the Natural England press office on 0845 603 9953, press@naturalengland.org.uk, out of hours 07970 098005. For further information about Natural England please visit: www.naturalengland.org.uk

*To complement publication of the draft Marine Bill, and assist pre-legislative scrutiny, Natural England has developed and published an outline of the statutory Scheme it will be required to produce for approval by the Secretary of State. It will use this Scheme as its methodology for deciding where to propose to the Secretary of State that new coastal access rights should apply at a local level, and how the people’s use of the rights should be managed in particular situations.

Natural England has worked closely with stakeholders of all types in developing the detail of the outline Scheme. It will also work closely with local interests including occupiers and the local access forum when it begins implementing the arrangements, which is expected to happen from 2010 onwards.

Marine Conservation Zones are the protected area mechanism introduced by the Marine Bill. MCZs are a type of Marine Protected Area.

Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings.