We urge Ministers to issue a revised Marine Policy Statement no later than January 2026. The updated statement should reflect the current and evolving pressures on the marine environment, clearly outline the Government’s priorities for marine usage, and set out by which decisions on the balance between marine exploitation and marine protection will be made. (Recommendation, Paragraph 34) 50

We urge Ministers to issue a revised Marine Policy Statement no later than January 2026. The updated statement should reflect the current and evolving pressures on the marine environment, clearly outline the Government’s priorities for marine usage, and set out by which decisions on the balance between marine exploitation and marine protection will be made. (Recommendation, Paragraph 34) 50 Type: recommendation | Number: 7 | Response status: not_accepted Government response: Defra recognises the role that the Marine Policy Statement (MPS) plays in setting a high-level context for marine planning and the development of marine plans. The key documents which guide spatial planning decisions are marine plans, which reflect both national and local policies, and the national