Marine Planning Stakeholder Reference Group meeting: 4 November 2025

In-Person: 

Eluned Jones (Chair, Welsh Government), Elen King, Megan Nicholas, Rhys Davies, Hishiv Shah, Char Lewis, and Mark Bloomfield (Welsh Government), Helen Bloomfield, Karen Perrow, Paige Minahan, Jenny Oates (Natural Resources Wales), Poppy Phillips (Marine Management Organisation), Jean-Francois Dulong (Welsh Local Government Association), Jennifer Godwin (Seabed User & Developer Group), Chrissie Ingle (Severn Estuary Partnership), Julian Whitewright (Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales), Rosie Kelly (The Crown Estate), Emily Williams-Slater (RSPB), Allan Pitt, Laura Byng (Arup)

Online:

Georgia Boston (British Marine Aggregate Producers Association), Cloe Evans, Kate Fortnam (Royal Yachting Association), Jonathan Monk (Milford Haven Port Authority), Helen Croxson, Nick Salter (Maritime and Coastguard Agency), Paul Renfro (Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum), Tom Hill (Marine Energy Wales), Lee Murray (Natural Resources Wales), Alex Curd (Marine Conservation Society), Richard Shelmerdine, Olivia Ross (JNCC), Jim Evans (Welsh Fishermen’s Association), Tristan Bromley (The Crown Estate), Claire Stephenson (Associated British Ports), Rhiannon Pipkin (ABPmer)

Chair, Welsh Government

Eluned welcomed new members and guests to the Marine Planning Stakeholder Reference Group (MPSRG) and initiated a round table of introductions. 

Allan Pitt and Laura Byng, Arup

Allan and Laura introduced themselves, noting that Arup have been commissioned by Welsh Government to conduct a review of terrestrial planning policies which are relevant to the Welsh National Marine Plan (WNMP). 

For context, Allan provided insight into a previous review, conducted by Cardiff University in 2016, prior to the publication of the Welsh National Marine Plan. Cardiff University’s review explored a range of planning documents to identify the relationship between terrestrial and marine policies and their links to marine objectives. 

Welsh Government wish to update their understanding of marine planning references and planning policy links made in relevant documents. This forthcoming review will reflect upon the methodology applied by Cardiff University in 2016 and update the approach wherever necessary to create a robust and repeatable process. The updated methodology will record and consider all relevant land use plans which reference the coastal and marine environment.

Amongst other factors, the forthcoming study will:

• review adopted and emerging policy
• assess whether marine and coastal policies promote the mitigation hierarchy and resilience;
• account for consideration afforded to European Marine Sites (Natura 2000) in plans; and
• explore policies spatially associated with shoreline management plans.

Key points arose from the discussion, including questions surrounding:

• SSSIs
• Corporate Joint Committees and Sustainable Development Plans
• The Sustainable Farming Scheme (which does not fall within the scope of the study)
• the role of neighbouring authorities and cross-border plans

Dr Julian Whitewright, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales

Julian explained that the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW) is a ‘sister organisation’ of CADW which focuses on maintaining, and curating, the National Monuments Record of Wales (NMRW). 

Of 22,000 sites in Wales, 8,000 maritime sites lie beyond the high-water mark. Most relate to shipwrecks and air crash sites (the latter of which are protected under war grave legislation). 

Julian noted that the NMRW reflects Welsh National Marine Plan policy ‘SOC_05: Historic Assets’. Emphasis is placed on avoiding adverse impacts on the assets wherever possible; when this is not possible, actions must be taken to minimise and/or mitigate adverse impacts. There is also a need to enhance these sites, largely by developing our knowledge and understanding. The NMRW can help with this, but knowledge enhancement is often also a product of marine development.

It is important to have a baseline against which future loss can be assessed and data is publicly available through the NMRW.  The RCAHMW can undertake proactive survey work but cannot commission offshore survey work due to budget constraints.  

Site records for the National Monuments Record are also available through DataMapWales. 

Guidance documents, the ‘Marine Historic and Natural Environment Area Statement’ and ‘Protocol for Archaeological Discoveries’, were developed in collaboration with Natural Resources Wales. These documents can assist with Band 1 licensing, for example, where applicants often cannot engage with heritage contractors in the capacity that large developers can. 

Questions were raised in relation to:

• the role of the historic environment in industry discussions
• whether 3D surveys also map biodiversity which colonises structures
• ongoing studies on environmental parameters and archaeological surveys
• the role of local authorities in assisting with surveys and data analysis

Mark Bloomfield, Welsh Government

The forthcoming Welsh Seabird Conservation Strategy (the Strategy) is the first of its kind in Wales, affording greater consideration to nationally and internationally important species. It focuses on 29 seabird species across each of their life stages within and external to the MPA network in Wales. The Strategy also considers the transboundary nature of birds, aligning with other strategies throughout the UK. The Strategy has a 10-year lifespan.

Species cards were published prior to consultation on the draft Strategy, outlining various data on populations. A series of vulnerability assessments have been conducted to inform recommendations to address key pressures moving forward. The vulnerability assessments explore twenty pressures and are informed by related sensitivity and exposure assessments. 

Mark invited discussion, which explored:

• the nature of the recommendations which will emerge from the Strategy
• whether marine net benefit (if introduced), WNMP policy, and/or strategic compensation could help to deliver on the recommendations
• how pressures may change over time
• how improvement in species will be measured

Rhiannon Pipkin, ABPmer

Eluned and Megan briefly introduced the Welsh Government’s recent commission, Aligning Marine Planning with Climate Smart Principles. They noted that ABPmer are taking the study forward for Welsh Government.

Eluned welcomed Rhiannon Pipkin, who is leading the study on behalf of ABPmer. 

Rhiannon introduced herself. She outlined the purpose of the study, noting that it will aim to explore how marine planning in Wales can align with climate-smart principles to remain effective as climate change impacts exacerbate. The study will inform considerations on whether climate-smart approaches should be explicitly embedded within the Welsh National Marine Plan and/or associated guidance to provide greater clarity and direction for development, while supporting resilience. Rhiannon then outlined the study objectives and approach, which will assist with delivery of this overarching aim.

Rhiannon noted that, at the time of the MPSRG meeting, ABPmer were conducting a desk-based literature review of eight marine planning jurisdictions, which will be reviewed as case studies to suggest how other nations are considering climate change.

Rhiannon provided an approximate timeline of where ABPmer will be seeking stakeholder input to shape the study and outlined next steps. 

Megan Nicholas, Welsh Government

Megan noted that Welsh Government have recently published a Technical Statement, which provides further detail and evidence to support the effective and consistent implementation of Welsh National Marine Plan policy, ENV_01: Resilient Marine Ecosystems. She thanked MPSRG members for their contributions towards the document. 

Megan then provided a short update on the Scoping Study to Explore Marine Net Benefit. The study is exploring potential approaches to marine net benefit in Wales. It does not represent any commitment to introduce marine net benefit in Wales- rather the work will allow Welsh Government to consider how the concept could be applied in Wales and will allow for an assessment of associated opportunities and risks.

Megan thanked everybody who consented to participate in the stakeholder engagement element of the Scoping Study to Explore Marine Net Benefit. 

There were no other items to discuss.

End of meeting