Governing the marine environment

Environmental Audit Committee Open Inquiry
Opened: 16 Dec 2024 Parliament page
The Environmental Audit Committee is undertaking an inquiry on governing the marine environment, which will focus on the UK's environmental obligations under marine treaties and how the UK is delivering on them, as well as the Government's strategy for marine planning and protection in its domestic waters. Read the call … Read more
18 Recommendations
10 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
6 Letters
4 Events
Activity timeline 16 events
16 Oct
2025
Correspondence
9 Sep
2025
Report published
9 Sep
2025
Correspondence
26 Jun
2025
Correspondence
6 Jun
2025
Correspondence
5 Jun
2025
Report published
2 Apr
2025
Oral evidence
2 Apr
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
6 Mar
2025
Correspondence
5 Mar
2025
Oral evidence
5 Mar
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
12 Feb
2025
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
2 Apr 2025
View on parliament.uk
Panel 1; Panel 2
Emma Hardy MP · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Helen Mulvein OBE · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Michelle Willis · Marine Management Organisation Mike Rowe · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Olivia Thomas · The Crown Estate Ronan O’Hara · Crown Estate Scotland The Rt Hon. the Baroness Chapman of Darlington · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
5 Mar 2025
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Panel 1; Panel 2
Andrew Bell · UNESCO Biosphere, North Devon Benj Sykes · Ørsted UK Jacques Villemot · Rewilding Britain Mark Russell · The Children’s Society Mark Simmonds · The British Ports Association Mike Cohen · National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO)
29 Jan 2025
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Panel 1; Panel 2
Dr Gemma Harper OBE · Joint Nature Conservation Committee Gareth Cunningham · Marine Conservation Society Jennifer Godwin · Seabed User and Developer Group Professor Heather Koldewey · Zoological Society of London Professor Melanie Austen · University of Plymouth
8 Jan 2025
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Panel 1; Panel 2
Alan Evans · National Oceanography Centre David Tomaney · UK Hydrographic Office Dr Michaela Schratzberger · Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) Professor Malgosia Fitzmaurice · Queen Mary University of London Professor Philippa Webb · University of Oxford Professor Richard Barnes · University of Lincoln
Title HC No. Published Items Response
2nd Report - Governing the marine environment HC 551 5 Jun 2025 28 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
5 results
Clear
15 Conclusion Accepted
2nd Report - Governing the marine …
Cessation of funding for Lyme Bay undermines crucial long-term marine data collection.
Long-term data collection is critical to scientific analysis of the effectiveness of marine protection measures such as whole-site protections and their impact on ecosystem recovery. We are concerned that funding for Lyme Bay has stopped, and this will lead to … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees on the value of Lyme Bay research and stated that Defra is in discussions with Natural England to continue the long-term monitoring of the site.
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21 Recommendation Accepted
2nd Report - Governing the marine …
Coordinate departments and Crown Estate to site offshore wind away from sensitive areas.
We recommend the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) coordinate with The Crown Estate to ensure that offshore wind developments are developed away from the most sensitive and … Read more
Government Response
The government partially agrees, stating that a strategic steer has already been provided to The Crown Estate to avoid environmentally sensitive areas for offshore wind development, and this guidance will be incorporated into the Marine Delivery Routemap.
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23 Conclusion Accepted
2nd Report - Governing the marine …
Government failure to legislate for ratifying Global Oceans Treaty is disappointing.
As a result of climate change, species are increasingly migrating into the high seas and global oceans. The movement of marine species beyond national jurisdictions poses significant challenges to conservation and sustainable management efforts highlighting the need for effective governance … Read more
Government Response
The government stated its complete commitment to ratifying the BBNJ Agreement and has committed to introducing the necessary legislation by the end of the year to implement it, ahead of ratification.
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27 Conclusion Accepted
2nd Report - Governing the marine …
UK Government funding for Overseas Territories marine conservation is critical for global protection and local empowerment.
The UK Government’s funding for programmes that enable local communities in Overseas Territories (OTs) to deliver marine conservation initiatives is critical for global marine protection, given the vast marine areas that are part of the UK’s OTs, and for empowering … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees, confirming its continued support for UK Overseas Territories through programmes like Darwin Plus and the Blue Belt Programme, which received increased funding for 2025/26, demonstrating its commitment to marine protection and leadership.
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28 Recommendation Accepted
2nd Report - Governing the marine …
Publish plan for continued and enhanced marine conservation funding in Overseas Territories.
The UK Government should commit to continued and enhanced funding to deliver marine conservation initiatives through its Biodiversity Challenge Funds and Blue Belt Programme, which have delivered excellent marine conservation objectives globally. If the Government is to continue to prioritise … Read more
Government Response
The government accepted the recommendation, confirming that Defra has secured multi-year funding beyond March 2026 for marine conservation initiatives in Overseas Territories and has increased funding for the Blue Belt Programme to £8.5 million for 2025/26.
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Government Response AI assessment · 28 of 18 classified
Accepted 5
Accepted in Part 13
Acknowledged 5
Deferred 1
Rejected 4
Total 18 recs + 10 conclusions
Correspondence 6 letters
16 Oct 2025 To committee Letter from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs relating to the Government response to the Governing the Marine Environment report
Parliament page
9 Sep 2025 From committee Letter to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs relating to Governing the Marine Environment: Government Response, 9 September 2025
Parliament page
26 Jun 2025 To committee Letter from the Minister for the Indo-Pacific, FCDO, responding to the 6 June 2025 joint EAC and IDC letter to the Prime Minister relating to protection of the marine environment, dated 19 June 2025
Parliament page
6 Jun 2025 To committee Joint letter from the Chairs of the Environmental Audit Committee and the International Development Committee to the Prime Minister, relating to protection of the marine environment, dated 6 June 2025
Parliament page
6 Mar 2025 To committee Letter from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, responding to the Committee's letter relating to Government proposals for consenting processes for offshore infrastructure projects, dated 3 March 2025
Parliament page
12 Feb 2025 To committee Letter from the Chair of the Committee to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, relating to Government proposals for consenting processes for offshore infrastructure projects, dated 11 February 2025
Parliament page