The government has confirmed work is underway to create a comprehensive Marine Spatial Plan for the island’s territorial seas.
Environment Minister Clare Barber said the plan is needed to address competing demands from fishing, energy and shipping sectors.
Mrs Barber revealed the development during an Environment and Infrastructure Policy Review Committee hearing, stating: “We are absolutely clear [a marine spatial plan] is needed.
“I believe DEFA is the lead on that, but with DOI supporting.”
Territorial
The announcement came after Chris Thomas MHK questioned governance arrangements, noting: “It’s now become clear that the territorial seas committee still exists, as it has done since 1993, and DEFA is also represented on the territorial seas committee.”
Mrs Barber explained the plan’s importance: “Territorial seas and our focus on them isn’t exclusively limited to energy. We should look at the elements around our fishing and access to our fishing rights.
“We need to be considering our shipping routes. We need to be looking at protecting those areas that are key to us.”
She also highlighted emerging challenges: “We’ve seen already some of the challenges that might exist, for example with shipping routes when we look at wind farms.
“It’s absolutely critical that we have a central understanding of how we assess those competing priorities.”
The minister confirmed preparatory work has begun: “We have a business case put together for that in terms of securing the relevant funds.”
The plan will build on existing frameworks including the Territorial Seas Committee, which Chief Officer Scott Gallacher noted includes DEFA representation: “At a minimum, it’s ensuring that we have line of sight on activities and things that Manx Utilities are thinking of.”
Rob Mercer MLC chaired the session where these marine planning developments were discussed alongside other environmental priorities.
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