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First plan areas selection process

Our decision methodology for selecting the first two marine plan areas to be planned is based on seven decision streams that were examined collectively to ensure a robust decision was made. We received advice from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on criteria that should be considered in determining the first areas for plan making. Our seven decision streams are listed below:

1. Stakeholder engagement in plan area selection.
2. Assessment of coastal stakeholder partnerships.
3. Technical report of economic, environmental and social information.
4. Implications of current and proposed marine protected areas.
5. Future pressures and their implications.
6. Implications of planning inshore and offshore together.
7. Implications of planning with bordering nations.

Overall summary of decision streams

We have used the decision streams, aligned to the criteria advised by Defra, to conclude that:

• we should plan an inshore and offshore area together
• we should avoid planning at the borders until we, Marine Scotland and the Welsh Government can align planning timetables – this will not be possible by April 2011
• the East Inshore and East Offshore areas, when planned together, will deliver the greatest sustainable development gain due to the step change in marine activity in the offshore area and the impacts this will have in terms of pressure on other uses and the natural environment. In addition, planning the East offers significant opportunities to deliver socio-economic gain to deprived communities along the east coast of England, even outside the immediate plan area.

Further information is available in Decision on first marine plan areas report (PDF 893 KB).

This document is in the portable document format (PDF) for downloading. Adobe Acrobat Reader can be freely downloaded from www.adobe.com/uk/