1. Marine Planning in Wales Julia Williams Head of Marine Branch

2. The Legal Position - Welsh Ministers are both the marine policy and planning authority for Wales under Marine & Coastal Access Act 2009, for both Welsh inshore and offshore waters - If Welsh plans for the inshore cover retained functions, they need agreement of the UK Govt to be binding on public authorities. Offshore plans need UK Govt agreement - Can’t have joint plans for cross-border areas but can plan jointly

3. Marine Policy Statement - Assembly Government has worked with other UK Administrations on the Statement - Until Welsh plans are in place, the Statement will provide the policy context for making decisions affecting Welsh seas - Welsh Plans will be developed in accordance with the Statement

4. The Timetable in Wales - Key aim is to have a national plan in place by 2012/13 - Consultation planned early 2011 on framework for developing planning in Wales: overall process, spatial approach, activity and evidence mapping, stakeholder engagement - Assembly Government’s Marine Branch will lead on work

5. Spatial Approach - Proposal is to have a national plan for Wales. Reflects recommendations of Wales Coastal & Maritime Partnership when Marine Bill being developed, and more recent informal consultation with stakeholders - Consultation will also include options on how to plan on a more localised or regional basis – different views from informal consultation on whether there was need for separate regional plans or to ‘nest’ more detailed planning for activity ‘hotspots’ within national plan - Decisions will be influenced by funding position

6. Planning Across Borders - Assembly Government will work very closely with MMO, especially on cross-border areas. To repeat – can’t have a joint plan for a cross- border area but can, and will, plan jointly - Will be challenges : Wales intends to have a national plan and has not yet decided its approach to more localised/regional planning - MMO decision on which regions to plan for first took into account the developing position in Wales

7. Stakeholder Engagement - Both Assembly Government and MMO committed to working with existing forums - Key building block for successful planning will be accurate mapping of existing and known future activities, their relationships, integrating sea and land planning and identifying ‘win:win’ opportunities

8. Key Challenges for Wales - Evidence gaps - ‘Future-proofing’ - Understanding what constitutes effective stakeholder engagement when consensus unlikely to be achieved - Striking a balance between ‘bottom-up’ and ‘top-down’ approaches - Potential differences between Assembly Government and UK Government policies