Marine & Coastal Access Act 2009 

The RYA was successful in ensuring the recreational boating interests were included in the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.

The RYA sought to influence the Marine & Coastal Access Bill 2009 as it passed through Parliament in order to ensure that the navigation rights and safety of recreational boaters would be taken into account in the selection and designation of Marine Conservation Zones.

We were successful in opposing several attempts to have recreational boating interests excluded from these aspects of the Bill and the result was that the Act provided that socio-economic activities could be taken in to consideration in the designation of MCZ's.

Recreational boating is a key socio-economic activity within UK waters. Without this provision in the Act the designation of MCZs would have been made purely on ecological grounds. Recreational boating may have had no voice at all

The RYA is broadly supportive of the Government’s aspiration to achieve ‘clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas’ in which we might enjoy our boating, as are many members. However, we are mindful of the potential impact of MCZs on the navigation rights and safety of recreational boaters.