The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is pleased to announce that the first\u00a0Three-Year Report\u00a0on\u00a0the South Marine Plan\u00a0was published by Defra on\u00a014\u00a0July 2021.<\/p>\n
The South Marine Plan\u202fwas adopted in\u00a0July\u00a02018. The publication of the Report marks the conclusion of over 12 months of work in gathering data, analysing\u00a0the\u00a0findings\u00a0and reporting on the effectiveness,\u00a0and effects,\u00a0of the plan policies,\u00a0including\u00a0the wider changes in context. The report also considers the progress made towards achieving the Plan objectives and the High Level Marine Objectives (HLMOs) as set out in the\u202fMarine Policy Statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Report\u00a0identified that whilst\u00a0the policy landscape\u00a0has\u00a0changed\u00a0since 2018, the Plan remains relevant and broadly aligned with national and local priorities. Positive progress has\u00a0also\u00a0been made towards embedding the Plan within the decision-making process.\u00a0Similarly,\u00a0the\u00a0Report shows positive findings regarding the implementation of the Plan, with signs that many of the specific plan policies are having their intended effect.<\/p>\n The MMO and the\u00a0Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs\u00a0(Defra)\u00a0are currently considering the future\u00a0of\u00a0marine plans. The outcome does not have a bearing on the conclusion of the\u00a0Report. In the future, it may be relevant to consider the conclusions again,\u00a0in line with a future scope of marine plan preparation.<\/p>\n The Rt Hon George Eustice MP Secretary of State Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs agreed with the MMOs recommendation\u00a0that the South Plan is to be retained and not amended at this time.<\/p>\n