Policy paper: Marine planning: East Marine Plans three-year progress report

This report reviews the progress made from 2 April 2014 to 1 April 2017 towards achieving the objectives set out in the East Inshore and Offshore Marine Plans. It also reviews the progress made against the high level marine objectives set out in the overall UK Marine Policy Statement.

Marine planning is the approach to managing the seas around England introduced by the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. There are 11 marine plan areas in the UK. Marine plans are intended to inform and guide marine users and regulators, managing the sustainable development of marine industries, such as wind farms and fishing, alongside the need to conserve and protect marine species and habitats. Marine plans contribute to the UK objective of having clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas.

The East Inshore and East Offshore Marine Plans were published in April 2014. The inshore area has a coastline that stretches from Flamborough Head in Yorkshire to Felixstowe town in Suffolk. The offshore area covers from 12 nautical miles out to maritime borders with the Netherlands, Belgium and France. They are monitored and reviewed every three years.