British Marine Federation secures key changes to the Marine and Coastal Access Bill 2009
The British Marine Federation’s (BMF) year long Parliamentary campaign has resulted in key victories on the Marine and Coastal Access Bill.
The BMF has successfully achieved a commitment by Government to consult industry on changes to the marine licensing regime, including the exemption of maintenance dredging activities. The consultation is now live and the BMF is calling for marine companies to submit their views.
The BMF has also secured assurances from Huw Irranca-Davies MP, the DEFRA Minister responsible for the Bill, on the Parliamentary record, that the proposed coastal path will not impact negatively on boatyards and marinas and that Natural England will have a duty to consult business owners where there is any objection to the route.
Despite a heated campaign by other lobby groups the BMF has also secured a continued commitment by the Government to take economic concerns into account when deciding on the areas to be declared as Marine Conservation Zones.
Commenting on the success, BMF Executive Director Howard Pridding said:
“The key gains achieved by the BMF on the Marine and Coastal Access Bill will ensure that this crucial piece of legislation will work in the best interests of the leisure marine industry.
“By working hard during the passage of the Bill and listening to what members wanted, the BMF has built political support and established a close and mutually beneficial working relationship with those responsible in Government. The Bill has significant implications for the leisure marine sector, not seen since the introduction of the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) and the required lobbying effort from the BMF was similar to that put into the recent Red Diesel campaign.
“We can now look forward to taking advantage of the opportunities presented by this legislation, such as the establishment of a coastal path around the UK, confident that our priorities will be fully taken into account. However, we will continue to monitor and influence the detail of the ensuing secondary legislation to safeguard the future of boating and marine businesses.”
The Marine and Coastal Bill is ‘on hold’ over the summer until MPs return in October. It is expected to become law before the opening of Parliament in mid-November.
More information on the BMF’s viewpoint and its activity with regards to the Bill is available by going to http://www.britishmarine.co.uk/m&cabill
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