Marine Policy
Consultation on ‘draft guidance on selection and designation of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) in the Northern Ireland inshore region.’
You are invited to comment on the draft guidance on selection and designation of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) in the Northern Ireland inshore region.
The draft guidance sets out the Department’s proposed approach to the selection and designation of MCZs in the Northern Ireland inshore region (out to 12nm).
The designation of MCZs will safeguard vulnerable or unique species and habitats of national importance in the Northern Ireland inshore region. These MCZs will deliver national priorities on biodiversity and geodiversity, including Northern Ireland’s contribution to European and international commitments on biodiversity.
The Department invites comments on the draft guidance by 31st January 2014.
A letter to consultees and the consultation document can be accessed using the following links. Details on how to submit responses are outlined in the covering letter and the consultation document.
Consultee letter on the draft guidance on selection and designation of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) in the Northern Ireland inshore region (85KB)   .
Consultation document on the draft guidance on selection and designation of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) in the Northern Ireland inshore region (1.3MB) .
Strategy for Marine Protected Areas in the Northern Ireland Inshore Region
The consultation on the ‘Draft Strategy for Marine Protected Areas in the Northern Ireland Inshore Region’ closed on 30 September 2013. The Department wishes to thank those who responded. A summary of responses is being prepared.
Marine Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas Strategy (791KB) .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Draft Northern Ireland Marine Litter Strategy-Synopsis of Consultation Responses
The consultation on the Draft Northern Ireland Marine Litter Strategy closed on 21 December 2012. The Department wishes to thank those who responded. A summary of the responses received is available from our Marine Litter Strategy page.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Draft Northern Ireland Marine Position Paper - Consultation Closed
It is intended that the Marine Position Paper will be a useful tool for those engaged in marine activities as it presents a concise overview of the current policy and legislative framework, as well as outlining the relevant public bodies responsible for the management of our marine area. It identifies the policy context within which a Marine Plan will be developed and seeks to enhance the public’s understanding of the concept of marine planning.
Views were sought on the content of the Draft Marine Position Paper which is available to download: Consultation on draft Northern Ireland Marine Position Paper (688 KB) .
A summary of responses received by the Department is available to download via this link: Consultation Report on draft Marine Position Paper (90 KB) ..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Northern Ireland Marine Bill - Introduced to the Assembly***New***
Action to protect the seas around Northern Ireland took another step forward when Environment Minister Alex Attwood introduced the Northern Ireland Marine Bill in the Assembly. on 21 February 2012
For further information on the Marine Bill click: Marine Act (Northern Ireland) 2013
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marine Litter Strategy***New***
The Department is working with key stakeholders to develop a coordinated Northern Ireland Marine Litter Strategy.
Information on work on this project is available on our Marine Litter Page: Marine Litter Strategy
Please go to this page to complete our survey on measures currently being undertaken to address the problem of marine litter and also measures you would like to see included within the strategy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New Marine Licensing ***From 6th April 2011***
The new marine licensing legislation applies from the 6th April 2011 to the Northern Ireland inshore region and will allow sensible and necessary development to go ahead but in a manner that minimises its adverse impacts on the environment, human health and users of the sea. The legislation team worked closely with their colleagues in the Marine Assessment and Licensing Team in NIEA to develop legislation which is practical and relevant.
Further details can be found on the Marine Licensing page.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marine Policy Statement *** now published ***
The Marine Policy Statement was published on the 18th March 2011.
The UK Marine Policy Statement is a joint venture with England, Scotland and Wales and provides the framework for preparing marine plans and taking decisions affecting the marine environment. It applies to all UK waters and sets out the general environmental, social and economic considerations that need to be taken into account in marine planning. This will contribute to the sustainable development in the UK marine area.
The statement can be viewed on the Marine Planning page.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marine Licensing Consultation Responses
The Department would like to thank stakeholders and key organisations which have contributed to the development of the marine licensing proposals, both prior to and during the consultation period.
The summary of consultation responses is available to download from the Marine Licensing page.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Marine Licensing Consultation ***Now Closed***
25 August 2010
We are currently consulting on our proposals for legislation to introduce the new marine licensing system. To read the consultation document and view workshop information, please go to the Marine Licensing page.
This consultation closes on the 3rd November 2010
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UK Marine Policy Statement – Consultation
21 July 2010
The Marine Policy Statement (MPS) is the first step in a new system of marine planning being introduced around the UK. It will provide the high level policy context within which Marine Plans will be developed, and set the direction for marine licensing and other authorisation systems.
The MPS is being developed by UK Government, Scottish Government, Welsh Assembly Government and Northern Ireland Executive.
The consultation “UK Marine Policy Statement: A draft for consultation” is now available. The consultation documents include:
- draft Marine Policy Statement
- draft Impact Assessment
- draft Appraisal of Sustainability including a Strategic Environmental Assessment
- draft Habitats Regulation Assessment
You can access the consultation document below:
The UK Marine Policy Statement consultation document (1.1MB)
The consultation will close on 13th October 2010. We would welcome your comments on this consultation paper, please send your responses to mps@defra.gsi.gov.uk.
Further information on the UK Governments Marine bill can be found on the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revised Statement of Public Participation & Newsletter no.2 -
23 March 2010
The Statement of Public Participation, published by the Department in conjunction with the other UK administrations in December 2009, has been revised. In addition, a second marine planning newsletter has been issued to keep interested parties updated on developments across the UK.
Revised Statement of Public Participation (526KB)
Marine Planning newsletter no.2 (217KB)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-consultation on draft Marine Policy Statement - paper for discussion
12 March 2010
We are seeking views and comments on a discussion paper on the Marine Policy Statement (589KB) . The MPS will be the first step in new systems of marine planning being introduced around the UK. It will provide the high level policy context within which Marine Plans will be developed, and set the direction for marine licensing and other authorisation systems. You are invited to contribute your views and comments on the draft MPS and supporting outline Impact Assessment, which has also been published today. The pre-consultation period closes on 7 May 2010.
A formal consultation on the MPS and supporting policy documents will take place in summer 2010.
The Statement of Public Participation will be amended to reflect the plan for continued engagement on the development of the Marine Policy Statement. We will continue to contact to you keep you informed on opportunities to work with us over the coming months
Workshops
Northern Ireland
The Department of the Environment will be holding seminars on the MPS in April and May this year. Please email marineteam@doeni.gov.uk for further information and to register your interest in taking part in a seminar.
England
Defra will be holding 2 workshops on the morning and afternoon of 25th March 2010 at Defra’s Innovation Centre in Reading. These workshops will inform the next phase of development of the Marine Policy Statement and supporting Impact Assessment. There will be opportunities to discuss them with the MPS and Marine Planning teams. Interested parties from across the UK are invited to take part.
For those who have not already done so, please register at mps@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Wales
A marine planning workshop is being held at the Wales Coastal and Maritime conference in Cardiff on 18th March, at which the MPS will be discussed. For further information visit http://www.walescoastalpartnership.org.uk
Statement of Public Participation - Marine Policy Statement
15 December 2009
The Department, in conjunction with Defra and the Scottish and Welsh Administrations, has produced a Statement of Public Participation for the development of the UK Marine Policy Statement (MPS). To view the statement and to find out more about the MPS, visit our page on Marine Planning.
Marine Strategy Framework Directive consultation
30 October 2009
The Department of the Environment, Defra, and the Scottish and Welsh Administrations, would like your views on our proposals to establish a legal framework to transpose the MSFD. The consultation closes on 22 January. Click MSFD consultation for more information.
Information Seminar
16 June 2009
The presentations and questionnaires from the marine information seminar are available below. We would be grateful for questionnaire responses from participants by Monday 6 July if possible. However, responses after this date are also welcome, especially from those who were unable to attend the seminar.
Please email responses to marineteam@doeni.gov.uk. If you wish to make an anonymous return, please post to Jim Ramsey, Calvert House, 23 Castle Place, Belfast BT1 1FY.
Presentations:
Questionnaires:
The focus of this half day event was to raise awareness on several key pieces of marine policy and legislation, and to provide an opportunity for some initial discussion on the future of our marine environment from the perspective of different sectors, in particular:
- Ports & harbours
- Tourism & Leisure
- Aquaculture & Fisheries
- Conservation
- Renewable Energy
Our Seas – a Shared Resource: High Level Marine Objectives
Our seas are shared and valued by everyone – for work, leisure and food. They support valuable habitats and a wide range of species depend on them. They play a vital role in mitigating climate change and providing many important marine resources.
…clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas…
In response to consultation carried out in 2008, the Northern Ireland Executive and the other UK Administrations have agreed a suite of High Level Marine Objectives for all UK waters. They are expressed in the context of the five sustainable development principles and present the outcomes sought for our seas.
These objectives will be used to underpin development of a Marine Policy Statement, which will set out our policies for the marine environment. Everyone will have the opportunity to help shape the Marine Policy Statement, which will be developed on a UK-wide basis over the next two years.
Our Seas - a Shared Resource: High Level Marine Objectives (843KB)
Further information on marine issues:
Marine Licensing
Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009
FEPA Licence (Food and Environmental Protection Act)
Marine Aggregates
Marine Strategy Framework Directive
EU Integrated Maritime Policy
|
