On 12 November Lesley Griffiths AM, Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs published the first ever Welsh National Marine Plan, setting out our vision for the sustainable development of our seas over the next 20 years.

Speaking in the Senedd the Minister said,

"I am pleased to announce the publication and adoption of the first Welsh National Marine Plan, setting out a 20 year vision for clean, healthy and productive Welsh waters. I would like this opportunity to thank the members of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee whose recommendations have helped to inform the plan, and the many interested stakeholders and partners who have contributed their time, expertise and ideas.

The WNMP has been prepared and adopted under the Marine and Coastal Access Act (2009), which provides the basis for marine planning across the UK. It contains plans and policies for both the inshore (out to 12 nautical miles) and offshore regions (12 to 200 nautical miles).

We've also published a number of supporting documents with the plan:

Habitats Regulation Assessment - An independent report to understand how our marine plan might affect wildlife.

Sustainability Appraisal - An independent report to ensure our marine plan meets sustainability and well-being goals.

Summary of changes following consultation - Lists the changes made to the draft WNMP following the consultation.

We've also updated our Marine Planning portal which presents the best available evidence for the Marine Plan area. There is also a FAQ.