MPs demand reform of UK marine governance to empower local voices

Coastal communities could gain a stronger voice over decisions that affect their seas, as a cross-party committee of MPs calls for reforms to the UK’s fragmented marine governance system.

The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has drawn on evidence from University of Exeter researcher Dr Pamela Buchan in its new report, which urges government to introduce a national framework for stakeholder participation by January 2026.

Published on 5 June, the report calls for earlier and more meaningful involvement of underrepresented coastal communities and voices in decisions on everything from offshore wind farms to marine protected areas.

It warns that current systems are overly technocratic with limited opportunities for public input into marine planning.

In evidence to the committee, Dr Buchan wrote: “Even for those most highly engaged marine citizens, there is little opportunity to be involved in UK marine governance … and a sense of disempowerment to influence marine decision-making.”

Dr Buchan’s submission highlights the legal obligation to enable public participation under international agreements including the Aarhus Convention and UN Human Rights Council Resolution 48/13.

She notes that the UK’s marine governance system is fragmented and disempowering, and that social impacts are often scoped out of marine planning processes.

Through research projects with the Marine Management Organisation, The Crown Estate, and local authorities, Dr Buchan has proposed practical reforms to improve representation and embed social sustainability.

Outside of her evidence to Parliament, she is also founder of the ‘Motion for the Ocean’, a civic initiative that has now been adopted by 34 local councils representing nearly 4.5 million people across the UK.

The initiative was recently presented at the One Ocean Science Congress 2025 as part of the UN Ocean Decade programme.

The Committee highlights concerns around poor stakeholder engagement and fragmented governance, warning that these issues risk undermining effective marine decision-making.

It cites evidence of insufficient time, resources and appropriate expertise given to community consultation and involvement, which could undermine community support for marine policies that deliver public good.

The EAC report states: “Engaging stakeholders in a meaningful way is essential to ensure that decisions are inclusive, transparent, and responsive to both environmental and societal needs. … Poor stakeholder engagement leads to the risk of the Government taking decisions without a full understanding of the consequences.”

The Committee’s key recommendations include:

• A comprehensive stakeholder engagement framework by January 2026
• Clear leadership to coordinate public engagement across marine governance
• Investment in capacity and expertise to support inclusive participation
• Greater transparency around the impacts of marine decisions on coastal communities

The timely release of the committee’s report coincides with the UN Ocean Conference (9–13 June) in Nice, where efforts to embed equity, participation and justice into ocean governance are centre stage.

Dr Buchan’s research has helped shape global thinking on inclusive approaches to marine sustainability, including through her contributions the UN Ocean Decade Challenges 9 and 10.