Marine Act (Northern Ireland) 2013, No. 10 (as amended)

The Marine Act (Northern Ireland) 2013 is legislation aimed at the sustainable management and conservation of Northern Ireland's marine environment. Here's a summary of its key aspects:

Purpose:

The primary purpose of the Marine Act (Northern Ireland) 2013 is to establish a legal framework for the management, planning, and conservation of Northern Ireland's marine resources. It seeks to balance economic development with environmental protection, ensuring the sustainable use of marine resources and the protection of marine biodiversity and ecosystems.

Requirements:

1. Marine Planning: The act introduces marine planning to guide the use and development of Northern Ireland's marine area. It requires the development of marine plans that identify areas suitable for different activities, such as fishing, aquaculture, shipping, renewable energy, conservation, and recreation. These plans provide a framework for decision-making to balance competing interests and ensure sustainable development.
2. Licensing and Regulation: The act establishes a licensing regime for marine activities to ensure they are conducted in accordance with environmental standards and objectives. It empowers regulatory authorities to grant licenses for activities such as marine construction, dredging, aquaculture, and marine energy projects, subject to compliance with specified requirements and conditions.
3. Marine Conservation: The act includes provisions for the conservation and protection of Northern Ireland's marine biodiversity, habitats, and species of conservation importance. It empowers authorities to designate marine protected areas (MPAs), establish conservation objectives, and implement measures to manage and conserve marine ecosystems and species.
4. Marine Enforcement: The act provides for enforcement measures to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and protect Northern Ireland's marine environment. It authorizes enforcement officers to monitor marine activities, investigate incidents of non-compliance, and take enforcement action, including issuing fines or prosecution for breaches of the law.

Applicability:

The Marine Act (Northern Ireland) 2013 applies to a wide range of stakeholders involved in marine activities within Northern Ireland's waters, including government agencies, local authorities, industry sectors, environmental organizations, recreational users, and coastal communities. It establishes a legal framework for the management and conservation of Northern Ireland's marine resources, with provisions for cooperation and collaboration between different sectors and stakeholders.

Overall, the Marine Act (Northern Ireland) 2013 represents a significant step towards the sustainable management and conservation of Northern Ireland's marine environment. By providing a framework for marine planning, regulation, conservation, and enforcement, the act aims to promote the responsible use of marine resources and safeguard the ecological integrity and economic prosperity of Northern Ireland's marine environment.

While the Marine Act (Northern Ireland) 2013 primarily focuses on the management and conservation of Northern Ireland's marine environment, it doesn't explicitly outline evidence requirements. However, compliance with the provisions of the act typically involves providing documentation, data, and evidence to demonstrate adherence to regulatory requirements and environmental standards. Here's a summary of potential evidence requirements under the Marine Act (Northern Ireland) 2013:

1. Marine Planning Documentation: The act requires the development of marine plans to guide the use and development of Northern Ireland's marine area. Evidence may include documentation related to the preparation, adoption, and implementation of marine plans, such as planning reports, spatial analyses, stakeholder consultations, and decision-making records.
2. Licensing and Permitting Records: Operators of marine activities are required to obtain licenses or permits to conduct certain activities in Northern Ireland's waters. Evidence may include license applications, approvals, permits, and documentation of compliance with license conditions, environmental assessments, and regulatory requirements.
3. Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs): Certain marine activities, such as marine construction, dredging, aquaculture, and marine energy projects, may require EIAs to evaluate potential environmental impacts. Evidence may include EIA reports, studies, assessments, methodologies, and documentation of mitigation measures proposed to minimize adverse effects on the marine environment.
4. Monitoring and Compliance Records: Operators are required to monitor and report on compliance with regulatory requirements under the act. Evidence may include monitoring data, sampling results, compliance reports, incident records, and documentation of corrective actions taken in response to non-compliance or environmental incidents.
5. Conservation and Management Plans: The act includes provisions for the conservation and protection of marine biodiversity and habitats. Evidence may include conservation plans, management measures, conservation objectives, and documentation of measures taken to achieve conservation goals and protect marine ecosystems and species.
6. Stakeholder Consultation and Engagement: Evidence of consultation with stakeholders, including government agencies, local authorities, industry sectors, environmental organizations, and coastal communities, may be required to demonstrate engagement in decision-making processes and consideration of public input.

Overall, compliance with the Marine Act (Northern Ireland) 2013 requires stakeholders to maintain comprehensive documentation, records, and evidence demonstrating adherence to regulatory requirements, environmental standards, and conservation objectives. This evidence serves to verify compliance, support decision-making processes, facilitate regulatory oversight, and ensure the sustainable management of Northern Ireland's marine environment.