Marine policy and planning
Marine policy and planning “In the next 20 years, human activities in many areas of the ocean will have increased significantly. New uses of the ocean will compete with traditional uses for space. Climate change will have modified species distributions and habitats; and increasing ocean acidification will raise new concerns about the survival of some species.” (UNESCO, 2009)
In order to sustainably manage our oceans and seas, effective marine policy is critical. Emerging examples include the designation of ‘no take’ marine reserves and the European Union’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive, which aims to achieve good environmental status for the EU’s marine waters by 2020. To help reconcile growing and competing demands on the marine environment, governments are increasingly undertaking marine spatial planning (MSP) which provides a means to achieve multiple objectives, including economic development and the protection and enhancement of biodiversity and ecosystem services. The EU is progressing a directive on maritime spatial planning and integrated coastal management as a cornerstone of its Blue Growth agenda, a long term
strategy to support sustainable growth in the marine and maritime sectors as a whole. URS has significant expertise in both marine policy development and MSP. For example, we have worked with the European Commission on implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to establish England’s Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the marine planning system for England. We also worked closely with the MMO to develop the first marine plans for England, the East Inshore and East Offshore Marine Plans and we are currently assisting with development of the inshore and offshore marine plans for the South of England.
OUR EXPERIENCE Our capability in marine policy and planning is complemented by expertise in a wide range of relevant areas including community engagement, marine ecology, the ecosystem approach, port development, renewable energy and terrestrial planning. We have listed selected examples of our marine policy and planning experience below. Establishment of Marine Planning System and Creation of the Marine Management Organisation (Defra, 2009 - 10) URS were commissioned by Defra to provide advice from a terrestrial planning policy viewpoint on the establishment of the new marine planning system for England and the MMO’s role under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. The project culminated in consultation on Defra’s description of the marine planning system for England, which set out the Government’s expectations with regard to marine planning and marine plans. Planning advice to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO, 2010 - 11) Following our work for Defra on establishing the marine planning system, URS was retained by the MMO to provide advice on the first steps in marine planning as the planning department began to take shape. This provided us with important insights into the marine planning system, including for example, the important links between marine planning and the licensing of activities in the marine environment. Development of WISE-Marine for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (European Commission, 2010 - 13) URS, in partnership with MRAG and UNEP-WCMC, assisted the European Commission in developing the reporting system for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive Reasons for undertaking marine spatial planning: •• To articulate a clear vision for the sustainable management of oceans and seas •• To effectively reconcile economic growth with marine biodiversity and ecosystem services •• To reduce tensions between competing sectors and promote synergies (e.g. the ‘co-location’ of different marine uses) •• To encourage private sector investment in the marine environment by establishing clear policies governing marine activities and thus providing enhanced certainty •• Promoting enhanced co-ordination between government, businesses and the third sector as well as between nation states
(MSFD) through developing the marine component of the Water Information System for Europe (WISE-Marine). Framework contract for services related to coordination between the different marine regions in implementing the ecosystem approach (European Commission, 2012 ongoing) URS are currently working alongside MRAG and UNEPWCMC on a framework contract for services related to coordination between the different marine regions in implementing the ecosystem approach. Sustainability Appraisal of the East Inshore and East Offshore Marine Plans (Marine Management Organisation, 2011 - 14) URS worked with partners to undertake the Sustainability Appraisal of the adopted East Marine Plans. The SA was informed by the views of an advisory group, comprising representatives from a range of key stakeholder organisations. Following adoption of the East Marine Plans, we have also been commissioned to undertake SA work for the inshore and offshore marine plans for the South of England. Managing the MMO’s Transition to a Plan-Led System (MMO, 2013) URS led a commission to assist the MMO in fostering a plan-led approach to decision-making, following progress with the first Marine Plans for England. The project involved literature review, semi-structured interviews with key actors across the MMO’s functions and the generation and appraisal of options for facilitating MMO’s transition to a plan-led organisation. Update to Soundness Self-Assessment Checklist (PAS,2014) In 2014, URS updated the PAS Soundness SelfAssessment Checklist to include marine planning. Under the duty to co-operate and the Marine and Coastal Access Act, landlocked as well as coastal planning authorities must take the marine planning system into account during plan preparation, as failure to do so where relevant could impact on the soundness of plans. The updated document builds those aspects of marine planning relevant to all local authorities into the main soundness checklist, and then adds a more detailed final section. This more detailed section sets out in full the interactions between terrestrial planning and marine planning, including the requirements of the marine policy statement, and is likely to be of most use to those local planning authorities whose area physically overlaps with the marine area, all of which are listed for clarity.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Jesse Honey Senior Planning Consultant URS Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited Direct: +44 (0)20 7821 4129 jesse.honey@urs.com
URS Corporation is a leading provider of engineering, construction and technical services for public agencies and private sector companies worldwide. We offer a full range of programme management; planning, design and engineering; systems engineering and technical assistance; information technology; construction and construction management; operations and maintenance; and decommissioning and closure services for federal, oil and gas, infrastructure, power and industrial projects.
URS CORPORATION (Europe, Middle East, China & India Operations) 6-8 Greencoat Place, London, SW1P 1PL United Kingdom
www.urs.com Š 2014 URS Corporation
MKB-05-0414