GovWire

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is inviting stakeholders to register their interest for workshops to discuss the challenges, opportunities and needs of the next phase of marine plan areas.

The workshops are being held across the north east, north west, south east and south west of England, and are part of a wider call for issues with supporting evidence that will be launched later in June.

The workshops will be the first opportunity to share views and evidence on the marine plan areas challenges and opportunities, and to discuss how marine plans could address these over the next 20 years. They will also include information gathered so far on emerging issues and a demonstration of the Marine Planning Evidence Base.

Identifying and understanding the issues that each areas faces is a critical part of developing meaningful and tailored marine plans, and local, specialist and industry knowledge is at the heart of this.

The workshops are taking place at the following dates and locations.

North East:

• Newcastle: Tuesday 5 July The Discovery Centre 10am to 4pm
• Darlington: Wednesday 6 July the Dolphin centre 10am to 4pm

North West:

• Kendal: Tuesday 12 July, Castle Green Hotel 10am to 4pm
• Liverpool: Wednesday 13 July, Radisson Blu Hotel 10am to 4pm

South West:

• Plymouth: Tuesday 19 July, National Marine Aquarium 10am to 4pm
• Bristol: Wednesday 20 July, Colston Hall 10am to 4pm
• Falmouth: Thursday 21 July National Maritime Museum 10am to 4pm

South East:

• London: Tuesday 26 July Kings College 10am to 4pm
• Colchester: Wednesday 27 July, West Western 10am to 4pm

The workshops build on the launch events held in April and are an opportunity for more detailed discussion on marine planning.

To register your interest in a workshop please visit our Eventbrite pages.

Further information:

• There are 11 English marine plan areas, including inshore and offshore areas. Each area will be covered by a marine plan by 2021 with a 20 year view of activities

• Marine planning addresses the key issues for the marine area, including the coast, estuaries and tidal waters, as well as developments that impact on these areas. The plans will include a vision, objectives and detailed policies on how these objectives will be achieved.

• Marine plans are used by public authorities as part of the decision making process for all new activities and developments in or affecting the marine area.

• Marine plans build on the requirements of the Marine and Coastal Access Act and the Marine Policy Statement.

• More information on marine plans is available here

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