Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to introduce a spatial and holistic marine planning system to (a) increase the protection and (b) aid the recovery of Marine Protected Areas and to ensure that the UK's seas are well managed.

Marine planning is a devolved function. This answer refers to the approach in England.

The Government already has a comprehensive marine planning system. The aim is to manage competing demands in English seas in a balanced and integrated way, including management of Marine Protected Area (MPA).

We have also established a cross-government Marine Spatial Prioritisation (MSPri) programme in England to respond to the growing spatial challenges in our seas, including supporting the protection and recovery of the marine environment. The programme will help build our understanding of future demands and how we can best optimise use and environmental protection of our seas.