Factsheet: what the Act means for individuals
A version of this factsheet designed for printing is also available [PDF] (55 KB)
Our oceans, seas and coasts have a huge impact on our lives, much of which goes unnoticed or is taken for granted, even though for most of us the sea is never very far away. The UK marine area is a vast and important resource that is vital to our well-being.
Not only does it provide us with valuable economic, environmental and cultural benefits, it plays a major role in shaping our climate and in sustaining life.
Climate change, over fishing and loss of biodiversity are all threats to our marine environment. The marine environment has been damaged by some of our activities in the past and it’s now more important than ever to protect our seas, oceans and coasts.
The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 is a key part of a strategy to make the best use of our marine resources and to ensure its sustainability for generations to come.
Changes to marine legislation will affect various parts of our lives – what we eat, what kind of energy we use, how the products we use get to this country, and how we can get out and about and use the coast.
The food we eat
Traditional fish and chips are part of British culture. Over the last few decades over fishing has caused a
decline in some of the key fish stocks that make up our seafood meals. 
Improved inshore fisheries management will allow depleted fish stocks to replenish while still allowing the fishing industry to prosper. More targeted and effective licensing and authorisation of inland fishing will lead to improved fish stocks.
Reformed licensing and management of migratory and freshwater fisheries will enable the Environment Agency to better conserve fish stocks for recreational and commercial fisheries alike. There will also be greater protection when stocks are vulnerable such as in droughts and flooding.
Taking pleasure in leisure
As an island nation many of us spend our leisure time either in, on or around our seas, oceans and coasts. The legislation will provide people with a new right of access to the English coast. It will include a signed and managed route to walk the length of the English coast (subject to some exceptions) and with access to wider spreading room such as beaches, headlands and cliffs.
The route will be future proofed, able to move back if parts of the coastline erode. Currently, 30 per cent of the coast is off limits to the public and access is often poor in the remaining 70 percent. We want families to be able to have access to walk, paddle and play along our entire coastline.
A modernised and streamlined marine licensing system is to be introduced making it easier for recreational users of the marine environment to enjoy leisure activities. This system will help all users of our seas, oceans and coasts to make the most of the marine environment whilst protecting our marine heritage.
Biodiversity - maintaining a rich variety of marine life
The various creatures of our seas, oceans and coasts form a colourful marine biodiversity which inspires and enriches our lives.
Shallow seas such as those that surround much of the UK constitute less than ten percent of the world’s total marine area yet contain the vast majority of its marine life. Our seas are no exception, containing up to half of the UK’s biodiversity. As part of the North-East Atlantic, they are one of the most biologically productive marine areas in the world. 
This diversity is important in itself but also contributes to the range of our usable marine resources, boosts marine ecosystems to adapt to changing conditions and helps control our global climate.
Currently only 2.2% of UK waters are protected from human activity such as fishing and associated activities. Special Marine Conservation Zones (MCZ) are well-managed marine protected areas where marine life can replenish. A number of these zones will be introduced under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 to protect our marine biodiversity.
The network of sites will be big enough to protect rare, valued and threatened habitats in our seas and close enough together for species to move between them. There will be enough sites to conserve a range of habitats that are vital for the health of our marine ecosystems.
Action on climate change for future generations
Managing and protecting the marine environment is a large part of our combined efforts to combat climate change. Through management of marine nature conservation and fisheries we will help to restore and maintain ecosystems that are resilient to the effects of climate change.
The oceans are also used to supply renewable forms of energy such as wind, wave and tidal power. Oceans and seas account for almost 50 per cent of the world’s carbon fixing potential – the opportunities to exploit renewable energy sources are enormous.
The changes to marine legislation will assist with the further development of renewable energy to help reduce our reliance on current energy production methods which are carbon intensive and contribute negatively to climate change.
Working together for our marine environment
The Act introduces a pioneering marine planning system that will help to clarify our marine objectives and priorities for the future, and direct decision-makers and users towards more efficient, sustainable use and protection of our marine resources. It will aim to inform people about the marine area so they know what’s there by consolidating information into clear, user friendly plans that can be used by all as a source of general information. This will also help to engage people in the importance of the marine environment.
It will be the first opportunity for organisations and local/coastal communities to have a real say in what happens at sea, how it affects them and what our priorities should be in the future. This will ensure that the future of the marine environment is in the hands of the people who are most affected.
Page last modified: 19 November 2009