Governing an ecological transition - Ecological Governance - page 143

government and approved by parliament. 133 Marine plans must be in
conformity with this statement ' unless relevant considerations indicate

. 134 The distribution of authority for areas of the seas amongst

otherwise '

the UK s devolved regimes also reintroduces the risk of fragmented

governance to the new system. However, the fact that one body has
been given responsibility for regulating many of the activities conducted
in signi

'

s jurisdiction, and that its
central government and devolved administrations are subject to the
common planning and regulatory regime established by the Act, at
least creates the basic foundation of a system of governance for reducing
the ecological impacts of sea uses. This arrangement would be retained in
a system of ecological governance although the governing institutions
would need to possess enhanced powers if they are to advance ecological
objectives.

cant areas of the seas under the UK '

4.7.1 Bridging the land/sea divide

Whilst it is desirable that the seas should be subject to a governance regime
in which institutions are given the authority to regulate the conduct of
activities within de

ned areas, it is also important that they should not be
treated as a separate realm from the terrestrial for the overarching purpose
of reducing the levels of ecological stress that human activities are respon-
sible for. As mentioned above, it is the tendency to regard the marine
environment as somehow divided from, and not subject to, the same
normative considerations as the familiar world of land-based activities
and environments that has allowed its exploitation to the point where
marine ecosystems are failing. Indeed, this attitude can still be seen in the
view formed by the UK Government that it would be preferable to under-
take an enormous programme of offshore wind farm construction and
attempt to manage the environmental consequences of this rather than
risk upsetting public sensibilities by signi cant further construction of

onshore wind farms. 135
If the seas are to be brought within an overarching framework for
ecological governance, there are two main issues that would need to be
addressed. The rst is the question of what the relationship should be

between governance for the seas and the wider system of ecological

133 HM Government,

( 2011 ).
134 Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, section 51(6).
135 Woolley,

' UK Marine Policy Statement '

' Trouble on the Horizon? ' , 227.