Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009
Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (c. 23) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It creates "a new system of marine management".[1]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Lords)
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An Act to make provision in relation to marine functions and activities; to make provision about migratory and freshwater fish; to make provision for and in connection with the establishment of an English coastal walking route and of rights of access to land near the English coast; to enable the making of Assembly Measures in relation to Welsh coastal routes for recreational journeys and rights of access to land near the Welsh coast; to make further provision in relation to Natural England and the Countryside Council for Wales; to make provision in relation to works which are detrimental to navigation; to amend the Harbours Act 1964; and for connected purposes. |
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| Citation | 2009 c. 23 |
| Introduced by | Hilary Benn (Commons) Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Lords) |
| Territorial extent | [b] |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 12 November 2009 |
| Commencement | various[c] |
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Status: Amended | |
| History of passage through Parliament | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
| Text of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
Provisions
Marine Management Organisation
Section 1(1) of the act creates the Marine Management Organisation.
Sections 1 to 3 of, and schedules 1 and 2 to, the act came into force on 12 January 2010.[2]
Exclusive economic zone
Section 41 of the act gave the powers to establish an exclusive economic zone (EEZ), with the zone defined by Exclusive Economic Zone Order 2013 (SI 2013/3161) which came into force on 31 March 2014. The UK was later than most states in establishing an EEZ, previously relying on overlapping maritime zones for fisheries; pollution control; and energy matters.[3][4]
Coastal access
Sections 296 to 310 of the act provide for the establishment of an English coastal walking route and of rights of access to land near the English coast.[5] They also contain supplementary legislation concerning the powers of the Welsh Assembly concerning the Wales Coast Path.
The King Charles III England Coast Path, created on the basis of the legislation, was officially opened in March 2026.[6]
Marine conservation zones
The act allows for the establishment of marine conservation zones.[7]
