Marine Planning Issues with Supporting Evidence

There is currently a lack of marine plan alignment and policy join up across marine and terrestrial boundaries. 

There is currently a lack of alignment and policy join up with the marine plans of bordering nations (France, Belgium and the Netherlands). 

There is currently a lack of cumulative effects monitoring and data sharing across borders. In the future, improved collaboration could present an opportunity to help decision-makers take into account cross-border cumulative effects. 

The decarbonisation of the UK's energy supply will mean significant investment in low carbon energy production. There are currently multiple proposals for offshore renewables in the east marine plan areas, which are likely to generate growth and employment in the industry. 

Proposals for new nuclear developments (for example Sizewell C) could offer significant employment opportunities in the local area. 

Variations in international trade associated with the development of legislation post-Brexit have the potential to impact international trade. 

Rates of coastal erosion (exacerbated by climate change) are faster in the east inshore marine plan area than in other marine plan areas. This creates challenges for the stability and quality of coastal access infrastructure. 

There is currently a lack of policy direction once access infrastructure has been lost to erosion.  

The east coast has high levels of coastal deprivation and associated health issues amongst the population. Access to marine and coastal (i.e. "blue") space can provide mental and physical health benefits, representing an opportunity to alleviate these issues. 

The defence policy is extremely spatially defined and highly restrictive in those areas, requiring approval for most activities from the Ministry of Defence.   

The Marine Spatial Prioritisation programme is currently undertaking a review of existing marine uses to explore whether spatial distribution can be further optimised. This includes a review of existing Ministry of Defence areas in UK waters. 

Defence activities are routinely prioritised over other activities, and all activities within the policy area for defence require approval by the Ministry of Defence to proceed. This creates challenges regarding co-existence of marine activities. 

Increasing competition for space in the east marine plan areas is reducing fishing grounds and access to them. 

There is currently a lack of communication between the fishing industry and other activities/developments, particularly prior to, and throughout, decision-making processes. 

There is an ongoing decrease in the fisheries workforce, due to an ageing workforce and a lack of recruitment into the industry. This creates socioeconomic challenges for local communities. 

The tourism and recreation industry are increasingly competing for space with other marine activities (for example aquaculture, fisheries). 

The rise of tourism abroad post-covid and after the cost of living crisis may have impacts on local tourism businesses in the east. The east area may be hit harder than most due to existing levels of coastal deprivation. 

Tourism plans and an ongoing focus on improving coastal access presents an opportunity to boost tourism in the east inshore marine plan area. Some areas in the east already have tourism plans in place. 

Coastal erosion, rising sea levels, increasing storm intensity and ocean acidification (all exacerbated by climate change), as well as pollution (for example marine litter), can lead to damage to, or loss of, archaeological sites and assets. 

Activities including infrastructure construction (for example offshore windfarm and cable development), fishing (for example trawling) and dredging have the potential to destroy or disturb archaeological sites and assets. 

Recreational activities including diving, unregulated salvage, and sailing (anchoring) have the potential to damage or disturb underwater sediment and result in the loss of artefacts. 

Coastal communities in the east generally have older populations and higher levels of deprivation than non-coastal areas. For example, coastal communities may have fewer people in good physical and mental health, lower levels of employment and fewer people with higher educational qualifications. 

Obtaining data to assess and monitor levels of knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the UK's coastline remains a challenge. For instance, the Adults' People and Nature Survey for England does not currently distinguish between coastal and non-coastal "green and natural" places.   

The number of adults and children visiting green and natural places (including beaches and seaside areas) is increasing. This creates an opportunity to improve the population's knowledge, understanding and appreciation of our coastline, while also creating both opportunities (for example tourism-related employment) and challenges (for example the social and environmental effects of increasing business) for coastal communities. 

Political sensitivities of seascape policy development associated with national policy delivery. 

The effects of new activities such as infrastructure development on protected landscapes and world heritage sites. 

The effects of new activities such as infrastructure development on the visual amenity or character of an area.