Executive summary  

The UK has a shared vision for clean, healthy, safe, productive, and biologically diverse seas. To achieve this, the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010 require the UK to take the necessary measures to achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status (GES) through the development of a UK Marine Strategy (hereafter referred to as the strategy).  

The consultation, launched on 6 September 2021 and closed on Monday 29 November 2021, set out our proposals for updating the UK Marine Strategy part three: programme of measures (POM). This was last published in 2015 and showed the measures the UK intended to use to achieve or maintain GES for UK seas over the next 6 years.  

The consultation sought views on the POM proposed for achieving or maintaining GES for UK seas. As this update to the POM represents the conclusion of the second cycle of updates to the Strategy, we also sought views on ways to streamline future iterations of the strategy. Feedback gathered through the consultation will be used to inform future approaches to the POM.  

We received 17 responses to the consultation – many of which were highly detailed – from a diverse stakeholder group, including: fishing organisations, environmental non-government organisations, advisory groups, executive non-departmental public bodies, the energy industry, and individuals.   

Respondents praised the progress made on Marine Protected Areas (MPA) site designations since 2015 and:

• the work in preparation for potential Highly Protected Marine Areas  

• the introduction of strategies for cetacean and seabird conservation  

• fisheries management ambitions 

• Scottish commitments to tackling climate change and expanding their designated site network 

• initiatives such as the offshore wind environmental improvement package 

These measures take into consideration human uses of the marine environment, alongside what is needed to support a thriving marine ecosystem. 

Respondents also: - suggested a wide range of new or additional measures - called for increased ambition and investment - identified a number of human-induced pressures they did not consider to be sufficiently covered by the proposed POM (for example, climate change).

Several respondents urged government to redress the balance between administrative process and the development and implementation of the strategy. 

In response to this feedback, we have made significant alterations to the POMs and have also included additional detail on the measures that we’re taking to address pressures to the marine environment in this document. Measures include those to deliver towards more biodiverse and cleaner seas, as well as those which will address cross-cutting issues that were raised by respondents. Where responses were deemed to be outside the scope of the consultation, for example pertaining to monitoring or targets, these will not be addressed through the update to the POM but will instead be noted and considered separately for future iterations of the strategy.  

The aims of this document are to provide a summary of stakeholder responses and our position on the main issues raised. The summaries of consultation responses that follow highlight the main issues raised but are not an exhaustive commentary on every response received. Nevertheless, all responses were considered when making final decisions about the programme of measures.  

In response to feedback, we have refined and streamlined the POM document since consultation to produce a more concise POM that provides a clearer narrative on how we expect the measures to maintain or drive progress towards delivering GES, and policy developments that have taken place since the last publication. The reformatting is presentational only and is to provide greater focus on new measures and actions since the 2015 POM. Measures that were presented in the 2015 POM and that are ongoing have not been presented in this update and we refer back to the 2015 where appropriate.  

Policy background   

The strategy is an ecosystem based adaptive management programme, which sets out a comprehensive framework for assessing, monitoring and taking action across our seas to achieve GES for UK seas. This is enshrined in UK legislation and demonstrates the combined commitments of the UK government and devolved governments to work together to monitor and protect what are some of the most biologically diverse and productive seas in the north-east Atlantic.  

The development of the POM is a collaborative effort by the UK government and devolved governments. It has been developed with input from scientific experts and policymakers across the administrations. The consultation document for the updated POM provided a snapshot of the measures we currently have in place and new developments to address the key drivers that impact our seas to support progress towards GES.  

Over the next 6-year cycle, we will also need to take account of international developments and changing pressures. Scientific and technical progress and the views gathered through the consultation will help inform our approach regarding the development and implementation, where appropriate, of any new measures to address these pressures.  

The Marine Strategy Regulations 2010 require that consultations are held to give the public an early opportunity to participate in the preparation, modification, or review of any programme of measures under the strategy. The competent authority must inform the public of its proposals and take account of the consultation responses in making any relevant decisions.  

More broadly, the UK government and devolved governments wanted to invite the views of both commercial and non-commercial users of the sea, as well as interest groups or bodies impacted by this strategy, to better understand expectations and opportunities for development.   

List of questions and summary of responses  

Overarching feedback  

Multiple stakeholders drew out the importance and value of grounding environmental policy in evidence, and praised our continued commitments to deliver comprehensive, evidence-based conservation measures. There was strong support for the aims of the strategy, as well as the involvement of each of the 4 UK governments and other nations through our international work, which recognises the importance of considering all seas around the UK together.  

Throughout the responses to the questions, however, respondents took the opportunity to highlight overarching areas perceived as needing improvement in the POM, covering topics such as ambition, strategic alignment and directions, and resources and finance. 

Responses also outlined concerns about the need to fully define and implement new management measures, alongside improving the marine planning, licensing, and consenting processes in response to competing demands on resources. There were concerns that failing to embed social and economic aspects into the strategy might have the unintended consequence of undermining adherence and compliance with new management measures.  

Sufficiency of measures  

Question 1: Are the proposed measures sufficient to achieve and maintain Good Environmental Status (GES)?  

All respondents suggested that the proposals detailed in the consultation document would be insufficient to achieve and maintain GES across all descriptors.  

The most common reasons given by respondents for this were that:  

• the strategy is under-funded and under-resourced to achieve its goals or to support impacted parties in supporting its goals 

• there is too much reliance on the Fisheries Act 2020 to deliver GES without means of implementation or legally binding targets 

• the MPA network is insufficiently complete and requires more stringent management 

• more enforceable measures are needed to prevent input of pollutants, particularly untreated sewage, and litter 

New and additional measures  

The consultation posed 2 questions for which there were a great deal of overlapping responses:  

• Question 2: If the proposed measures are not sufficient to achieve and maintain GES, what measures are needed? Please provide details and evidence to show how these would contribute towards the achievement or maintenance of the environmental targets as set out in the 2019 update to the UK Marine Strategy part one.  

• Question 3: Are there any additional existing or planned measures not identified that might also contribute to the achievement of the relevant environmental targets and the achievement or maintenance of GES?  

88% of respondents (15) provided feedback for question 2 and 65% of respondents (11) supplied content under question 3.   

The consultation responses contained a wide range of recommendations for new or additional measures to be added to the current POM (more than 80 suggestions). In addition, it was suggested that several existing management measures, such as codes of conduct, should be added to the POM. Many respondents felt that that the emphasis should be on actively implementing measures to effect change in current uses of the marine environment. Respondents commented that greater ambition and resources were needed to strengthen the measures’ ability to deliver on achievement and maintenance of GES.  

Of the new or additional measures proposed for inclusion, the most frequently suggested were:  

• a range of measures related to fisheries and managing or lowering its impact such as:  

• effective implementation of detailed Fisheries Management Plans for stock recovery (including for prey species) 

• measures to protect benthic habitats from bottom-towed fishing gear 

• financial assistance for fishers to support a transition to lower impact, more sustainable practices 

• a review of the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 

• roll out of remote electronic monitoring to inform effective marine management 

• for species: investment in delivering UK biosecurity measures, especially for islands with seabird populations, fully resourced and implemented bycatch mitigation programmes (to include Northern Ireland), and improved resourcing for and wider roll out of biosecurity measures 

• spatial measures such as effective MPA and HPMA management, with current gaps in the network filled promptly; and fully implemented and spatially explicit marine plans for all UK governments  

• improved litter prevention and retrieval 

Unnecessary measures  

Question 4: Are there any measures proposed that you think are not justified or that will not contribute towards the achievement or maintenance the environmental targets set out in the UK Marine Strategy part one?  

Just over 50% of respondents (9) who provided feedback under this question did not identify any measures they deemed to be unjustified.  

However, there were calls for a pragmatic approach to applying noise thresholds to industrial activities where negative impacts on marine populations cannot be demonstrated, so that development of infrastructure contributing to our net zero ambitions is not hindered. Most respondents also took the opportunity to emphasise their arguments regarding the development of the POM set out in the sections above.  

Whilst different views were presented (for example, the need for more, fully resourced measures versus the need for a POM that reflects socio-economic realities, of government funding available and potential financial burden on affected stakeholders) the responses shared a common theme: stakeholders considered the measures that were presented in the consultation document to be insufficient to drive change including to fairly support industry to transition to technology, infrastructure or methods aligned with Government Economic Service.   

Unaddressed pressures  

Question 5: Are there any significant human activity-related pressures and associated impacts that are not addressed by the proposed measures?  

Approximately half of 9 respondents who answered this question listed a range of pressures they did not consider to be addressed by the proposed measures. The most prominent themes were:  

• climate change, including blue carbon storage and habitat recovery 

• impacts of bottom-towed fishing gear, particularly at offshore sites 

• the expansion of offshore energy and other infrastructure (including benthic, light, noise, and electro-magnetic force impacts) and a lack of a holistic approach to marine planning 

• pollutant input from untreated sewage and from treated sewage run-off 

• ecotourism  

• depleted stocks of prey species of fish 

Justification of exceptions  

Question 6: Do you agree with the justifications provided for the use of exceptions under Regulation 15?  

71% of respondents (12) made specific comment on the use of exceptions under regulation 15 of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010. The responses indicated 2 opposing - but not mutually exclusive - headline themes:   

1. Exceptions are justified due to the cross-boundary nature and extent of the marine environment and a lack of data to support action to reduce pressures.  

2. Exceptions are not justified: the UK needs resolute action and ‘greater ambition’ to achieve and maintain GES wherever and whenever possible. Exceptions must not mask or undermine the need for collective action and international leadership to tackle shared problems. Respondents stated wider environmental issues were drivers for increased action, not less, and exceptions should only be used once all other actions have been taken to address a problem. This position was presented most frequently (4 responses) in regard to the use of regulation 15 for impacts on seabirds related to climate change, where there has been shown to be a declining trend since the last cycle. For more information on this exception, see the birds chapter in our updated programme of measures document. 

Alternatives to the need for exceptions were proposed, including the option of ‘interim measures’ that provide a series of benchmarks against which progress toward GES could be measured over shorter timescales than the GES reporting cycle.  

One respondent argued that the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010 did not adequately transpose the provisions of Article 14(1) on exceptions in Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (The Marine Strategy Framework Directive), in the context of exceptions that can be used as justification for not achieving targets or GES within the relevant timescale set out in those regulations.   

Streamlining  

Publication of the updated POM will conclude the second cycle of the strategy. This provides an opportunity to look afresh at how we are currently delivering the strategy, to learn from our experience, and to build on and improve the delivery of the strategy for the future.  

We are looking to reform the regulations to enhance the strategy where necessary to ensure that the ecosystem-based approach we take to protect the marine environment prevents its deterioration and restores it where practical, while allowing sustainable use of marine resources.  

To reflect this, we posed 2 questions to stakeholders to understand where improvements could be made to enhance and streamline the existing delivery programme and improve implementation of the next cycle.  

Question 7: What, if any, improvements do you think could be made to the process and structure of the existing delivery programme to enhance and streamline it?  

Just over 50% (9) of consultees responded with comments on improvements to the process and structure of the existing delivery programme.  

Four main themes can be drawn from the responses: 

• resources and funding are required for each measure to be effective, actions should not be limited by or developed in response to available funding 

• balancing the needs of the devolved governments, the need for communication and coordination across the UK government and the need for balanced input from across the UK into the POM 

• the need for commitment to timely action, particularly where existing robust evidence supports action with mechanisms to review and adjust delivery programmes accordingly, to achieve targets along the way 

• resource currently channelled into strategy drafting and process should be re-allocated to allow greater focus on delivering the measures themselves  

Finally, it was also noted that the strategy process should include a comprehensive impact assessment of the measures, quantifying the expected contribution of measures towards achieving GES.   

Question 8: What, if any, improvements do you think could be made to the scope of the existing delivery programme to increase its effectiveness, coherence, and relevance across the UK regulatory landscape?  

Just over 50% (9) of respondents commented on improvements to the existing POM to increase its effectiveness, coherence, and relevance.  

Respondents highlighted three main themes: 

• the need for specific measures to be designed and implemented for the achievement of GES, rather than signposting to existing legislation or policies  

• the need for greater reference to challenges to the achievement of GES made by climate change  

• Following on from responses to question 1, the need for the POM to be balanced across the devolved governments, with measures being proportionate to the presence of descriptors within each country         

Finally, some respondents commented they would encourage government to include in the strategy a commitment to non-regression of environmental standards, in order to maintain confidence in the strategy, as well as the need to set out a clear path to delivering the 2030 State of Nature target. 

Government response 

The UK government and devolved governments welcome the feedback on developing measures to achieve GES. Many of the issues raised by respondents were relevant to multiple descriptors. Reflecting this, we have categorised our responses under the following themes: cross-cutting, biodiversity, pressures, and clean seas.  

Generally, responses to the consultation suggested that the programme of measures would be insufficient to achieve and maintain GES across all descriptors. Responses advocated greater ambition; strategic alignment, and increased funding and resourcing to enable industry to transition to GES-aligned gear and methods and for management implementation, monitoring, and enforcement.  

The 3 parts of the strategy form an adaptive management programme, which is under continual review. We will take into consideration the areas in which respondents believe funding and resourcing should be prioritised.  

We recognise the complexity of the issues at stake, and for the need to synthesise environmental, social, and economic drivers in the search for durable solutions that move these descriptors steadily toward GES. 

Responses to the streamlining questions (7 and 8) will inform our approach to reforming the strategy going forwards. Any changes to the strategy will be developed with close collaboration between Defra and the devolved governments. 

Cross cutting issues 

Respondents highlighted a number of cross cutting issues, including fisheries management, marine spatial planning, and the implementation of MPAs. The achievement of the 8 fisheries objectives set out in the Fisheries Act 2020 will have significant influence over the achievement and maintenance of GES, in particular the sustainability, precautionary, ecosystem (for which the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010 are directly referenced) and bycatch objectives. The Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS), consulted on by the UK government and devolved governments in early 2022 and published November 2022, sets out the policies for achieving, or contributing to the achievement of these objectives, as required by the Act.  

The Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) specified in the JFS will contribute to the achievement of GES targets. FMPs will set out the policies to secure the long-term sustainability of our fish stocks for current and future generations.  

Defra will work collaboratively with each fisheries policy authority and relevant arm’s length bodies to develop our understanding of the status of stocks covered by FMPs and appropriate management measures to support each plan. Stock assessments carried out by the ICES, Cefas, the devolved governments and other relevant bodies will be used to ensure appropriate management of stocks is in place.  

The UK government and devolved governments have built a comprehensive network of MPAs and are focusing on making sure they are protected properly.  

The UK government has committed to introducing HPMAs in English waters. Defra consulted on 5 candidate sites in 2022, and 3 sites were designated in English waters in summer 2023. 

As part of the MPA Network Completion Programme, Welsh Government have committed to designating further Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) in Wales focusing on benthic features identified within habitat gap analysis. Potential sites have been identified primarily in the Welsh offshore region, with a view to designating smaller areas within this. A consultation is expected to launch in 2024. 

The Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is undertaking a review of Northern Ireland (NI)’s existing MPA strategy to take account of wider policy considerations around biodiversity loss and climate change. The review is being undertaken in partnership with stakeholders and alongside the development of a Blue Carbon Action Plan for Northern Ireland. The updated strategy will provide a renewed framework for improving the ecological coherence of the existing MPA network. The revised MPA strategy is expected to be presented for wider public consultation in the summer of 2024. 

The Scottish Government has taken an evidence-based approach to developing fisheries management measures for MPAs. Measures for the most vulnerable sites were implemented in 2016 and protective management measures at remaining sites where these are required to further their conservation objectives will be consulted on in 2024 to 2025. Fisheries measures are also being developed for the 11 Priority Marine Features most at risk from bottom contacting fishing gear trawling outside MPAs, in line with Scotland’s National Marine Plan, providing additional protection to Scottish inshore waters. Many of the habitats protected in the MPA network capture and store blue carbon, enhancing their value as natural assets.  

In the UK we are committed to ensuring that climate change adaptation, resilience and mitigation are fully considered and integrated in our marine and fisheries policies. The UK government and each devolved government is committed through their own legislation to achieving climate change targets within identified timescales.  

Through the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (MCCIP) we are also improving our understanding of the impact of climate change and rising sea levels. MCCIP engages with a wide range of scientific authors to supply policy makers and the public with updates on the current and predicted impacts of climate change.  

Furthermore, Defra is working together with Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), and devolved governments as part of a cross-administration UK Blue Carbon Evidence Partnership to progress the evidence base on blue carbon habitats. Through this partnership, UK governments will work together to address key research questions related to blue carbon policy, including working to fill the evidence gaps that currently hinder inclusion of coastal wetlands into the UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory.  

Biodiversity 

Responses highlighted a number of additional or new measures for biodiversity. Key actions we are taking include:   

• within the UK, the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) and Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) investigate causes of death of stranded cetaceans and seals (as of 2022, seal strandings are also in scope of the CSIP), improving our understanding of, and ability to tackle, threats to cetaceans and seals 

• the implementation of the UK wide Dolphin Porpoise and Whale Conservation Strategy will help achieve favourable conservation status for our most commonly found species of dolphin and porpoise. It will do this through identifying actions to address key pressures, including bycatch, entanglement, cumulative noise impacts and pollutants, plastics and biotoxins 

• the UK and devolved governments have commenced programmes that will help better understand the stressors and actions needed to improve the status of our seabirds. Individual approaches are being taken across the UK, with a view to developing and publishing Seabird Conservation Strategies, which will be key to tackling some of the main pressures facing marine birds 

• through the UK Marine Wildlife Bycatch Mitigation Initiative, fisheries policy authorities must set out policy objectives and potential actions to meet part of The Fisheries Act 2020 ecosystem objective that ‘incidental catches of sensitive marine species are minimised and, where possible, eliminated’. We recognise bycatch as a key pressure to biodiversity and we will take action, for example, through implementation plans  

• Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, NatureScot, JNCC, The Great Britain Invasive Non-Native Species Secretariat, Defra, Scottish Government and DAERA are working collaboratively on the AfterLIFE plan, with RSPB is leading the coordination of this work 

• a number of estuarine and coastal habitat restoration initiatives are underway. The Environment Agency’s Restoring Meadow, Marsh, and Reef (ReMeMaRe) initiative is working to reverse centuries of declines of estuarine and coastal habitats and help combat climate change through the restoration and protection of coastal blue carbon habitats. Natural England is also leading the EU-funded LIFE Recreation ReMEDIES project, which aims to restore seagrass and maerl habitat in 5 English MPAs 

• Welsh Government are developing a habitat restoration scheme focusing on seagrass and saltmarsh in the Welsh marine environment  

• DAERA are developing a number of strategies to address biodiversity loss in line with their Draft Environment Strategy. In the marine environment a number of strategies are under development which will contribute towards protecting marine biodiversity, including a review of the existing Marine Protected Area Strategy, the development of a Blue Carbon Action Plan for NI and an Elasmobranch Strategy and Seabird Conservation Strategy. A wide ranging ‘Nature Recovery Strategy,’ spanning land and sea, is in development as a successor to NI’s previous Biodiversity Strategy. DAERA have supported the production of a feasibility assessment of coastal blue carbon habitat restoration potential in NI and continue to support the establishment of local native oyster restoration projects. The development and implementation of the Blue Carbon Action Plan will provide a further impetus to blue carbon research and restoration projects in NI 

• the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy sets an ambition for Scotland to be nature positive by 2030, and to have restored and regenerated biodiversity across the country by 2045. Developing our management of sustainable fishing will form a crucial part of protecting and restoring biodiversity in marine waters to help achieve those goals. As part of this the Scottish Government has committed to introduce a Natural Environment Bill to put in place key legislative changes that will restore and protect nature in our seas, including, but not restricted to, targets for nature restoration, and an effective, statutory, target-setting monitoring, enforcing, and reporting framework 

Pressures 

A number of pressures were highlighted in the responses. Key ways we are addressing these include: 

• to protect benthic habitats from bottom-towed fishing gear:  In England, the 10 IFCAs use a variety of measures, including byelaws and permitting schemes, to restrict the use of gears such as trawls or dredges in their district. The IFCAs also carry out assessments that look closely at the impact of fishing gears and effort in MPAs in their districts. As a result, additional management measures may be needed in part or all of the MPAs in an IFCA’s district. We are implementing byelaws in English offshore MPAs to prohibit damaging fishing activity over sensitive habitats, the latest took effect from 22 March 2022 protecting a further 13 offshore MPAs. The aim is to have all MPAs in English offshore waters protected from damaging fishing activity by 2024 

• DAERA is committed to continuing the previous and current support provided to industry on the researching, identification and trialling of fishing gears and innovative means of fishing through future funding streams 

• The Welsh Government is working with Natural Resources Wales to deliver the Assessing Welsh Fishing Activities programme which will evaluate fishing activity interactions with features of Welsh MPAs highlighting their vulnerability 

• in Scotland, fisheries management measures are being developed for MPAs where they are not already in place and protective management measures are also being developed for the 11 benthic priority marine features most impacted by bottom contacting mobile fishing gear outside of MPAs. The Scottish Government will also ensure more effective compliance by extending the requirement for Vessel Tracking and Monitoring Systems across the whole commercial fishing fleet by the end of the current parliamentary session 

• through the UK Bycatch Mitigation Initiative, fisheries policy authorities must set out policy objectives and potential actions to meet part of The Fisheries Act 2020 ecosystem objective that ‘incidental catches of sensitive marine species are minimised and, where possible, eliminated’. We recognise bycatch as a key pressure to biodiversity and we will take action, for example, through implementation plans 

• as already highlighted, FMPs are being developed across the devolved governments which will seek to achieve, or contribute to the achievement of, the 8 objectives within the Fisheries Act. They are part of a suite of tools being used to manage fisheries around the UK. Annex A in the JFS sets out the list of planned FMPs, the stocks they will cover and the fisheries policy authorities responsible for preparing and publishing the plans. FMPs may also consider wider fisheries management issues related to environmental, social, or economic matters if relevant 

• all UK governments are considering or have under development programmes exploring and developing mechanisms to enable delivery of the government’s offshore wind ambition while still protecting the marine environment, including impact of noise on species 

• as previously highlighted, Defra is working together with Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, and devolved governments as part of a cross-administration UK Blue Carbon Evidence Partnership to progress the evidence base on blue carbon habitats, and fill evidence gaps 

Clean seas 

Responses highlighted the need for more enforceable measures to prevent input of pollutants, particularly untreated sewage, and litter. Key ways we are addressing the input of pollutants include: 

• the UK government and devolved governments are working to prevent plastic from entering the environment in the first place by making producers more responsible for the plastic they make and eliminating the most problematic plastic items. Legislation to restrict the supply of several single-use plastic items has been introduced (see POM document for more information) 

• the UK government and devolved governments will introduce extended producer responsibility for packaging on a phased basis from 2024. This will include new legislation being laid to implement the changes. Reform will include payments from producers to cover the cost of managing packaging in street bins and also fund behaviour change campaigns on litter 

• The UK government, Welsh Government, Scottish Government and DAERA have agreed to launch Deposit Return Schemes (DRSs) for drinks containers in October 2027. The schemes will introduce a deposit on single-use drinks containers, which is refunded upon return of the container. The deposit provides a financial incentive for consumers to return drinks containers for recycling and is expected to boost recycling levels for in-scope containers to over 90% by year 3 of the scheme’s operation 

• the Resources and Waste Strategy for England, published in December 2018, sets out plans to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste 

• as a Contracting Party to the OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic, UK government in collaboration with devolved governments is developing and implementing actions under the new OSPAR Regional Action Plan for Marine Litter 

• work is also being conducted nationally and through OSPAR to identify and monitor chemicals of emerging concern and the risk that they pose to the marine environment, this will enable us to determine if further measures are required 

• all UK governments are working with the fishing industry to develop solutions for the collection and recycling of end-of-life fishing gear  

• tackle microplastics, a UK-wide ban on microbeads in rinse off personal care products has been introduced and UK governments have supported the development and publication of the first handling and management standard for plastic pellets, the second largest source of microplastic pollution globally  

• in August 2022, Defra launched the most ambitious plan to reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows in water company history (Storm Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan). New strict targets in England will see the toughest ever crack down on sewage spills and will require water companies to secure the largest infrastructure programme in water company history - £56 billion capital investment over 25 years 

• Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans for Wales were published by water companies in 2022 and the new Storm Overflow Assessment Framework (SOAF) will use CSO monitoring data to identify ‘high’ spilling assets (more than 60 annual spills) on inland waters and target them for remedial work. The Shared Waters Enhancement and Loughs Legacy (SWELL) project aims to improve water quality in the shared waters between NI and Ireland through enhanced wastewater treatment 

• Scotland’s River Basin Management Plans, published in December 2021, set objectives aiming to improve the number of waterbodies at good status or better for water quality from 86% (2020) to 92% by 2027 and 98% in the long-term and the framework for Finfish aquaculture in Scotland has been strengthened and includes requirements to protect the marine environment from nutrients discharged from aquaculture 

List of respondents 

• Blue Seas 

• Bright Blue 

• Environment LINK UK 

• Historic England 

• International Association of Geochemistry 

• KIMO International 

• National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations 

• Northern Ireland Fishermen’s Federation 

• Northern Ireland Marine Task Force 

• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds 

• The Crown Estate 

• The Wildlife Trusts 

• Ulster Wildlife 

• Wildlife Trust Wales 

• Three other respondents, including anonymous or unaffiliated responses