Severn Estuary PartnershipLanguage: English | Cymraeg
Policy and Legislation
Overview of the current legal framework, regulations, and policies related to biosecurity.
Effective biosecurity in the Severn Estuary relies on adherence to key policies and legislative frameworks designed to protect the marine environment from invasive non-native species (INNS). These policies establish measures to prevent the introduction and spread of INNS and guide responsible practices for various marine sectors.
South West Inshore and Offshore Marine Plan
Policy SW-INN-1
Proposals must implement appropriate measures to avoid or minimise significant adverse impacts on the marine area due to the introduction and transport of non-indigenous species.
Wales Marine Plan
Policy ENV_03
Proposals must assess the risk of introducing or spreading INNS and implement biosecurity measures where appropriate. This helps ensure compliance with the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and contributes to the UK Marine Strategy targets, specifically Descriptor 2 which focuses on maintaining ecosystem health and resilience.
These above policies are particularly critical in scenarios involving:
Introduction of structures that may facilitate the settlement or spread of non-indigenous species.
Movement of equipment, boats, or livestock (e.g., fish and shellfish) between water bodies.
Policy Drivers
Several key policies and legislation drive the work to control and manage INNS:
- Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
INNS pose an increasing risk to the favourable condition of MPAs. The UK Environment Act sets a target to restore 70% of designated features in MPAs to favourable condition by 2042, with the rest in a recovering condition. Controlling INNS is a critical part of this objective.
- GB Non-Native Species Strategy
This strategy outlines a coordinated approach across government and organisations to manage the threat of INNS, following the principles of prevention, rapid detection and early eradication, and long-term control as set out by the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Implementing biosecurity plans as part of the measures to achieve GES.
UK Marine Strategy and Good Environmental Status (GES)
The UK Marine Strategy requires actions to achieve GES in marine waters. Descriptor 2 of the strategy states that “non-indigenous species introduced by human activities are at levels that do not adversely alter the ecosystem.” Targets include:
Reducing the risk of INNS introduction and spread by managing high-risk pathways and vectors.
Developing action plans for key high-risk marine non-indigenous species.
Key Legislation
- Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Provides legal protection for native species and habitats, and includes provisions to prevent the release of certain non-native species into the wild.
- Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order
This legislation enforces controls on the trade, movement, and release of listed invasive species.
- Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000
Aims to protect and enhance water bodies, including estuaries, by setting standards for water quality and managing ecological risks such as the introduction of INNS.
A marine licence is not required for the deposit of a substance from the hull of a vessel, in the course of in water hull cleaning, provided the cleaning is carried out by hand using a soft cloth, sponge, the bristles of a soft brush or sandpaper with a grit size of at least P2000. This effectively means it is an offence to clean off anymore than a slime layer.
Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (England only).
Consents
The marine licensing process assesses the environmental impact of licensable activities, including the potential introduction or spread of invasive non-native species (INNS). As part of this, advice from consultees such as Natural Resources Wales or Natural England may include recommendations for best practice biosecurity, such as developing a biosecurity plan. This plan may become a condition of the marine licence. Similar biosecurity considerations are required for any activities involving SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) consents to protect sensitive areas from INNS risks.
