11. Will the Minister make a statement on a national marine plan for Wales? OAQ(5)0043(ERA)[W]

Diolch. Officials are currently drafting the first ever Welsh national marine plan. I’ve recently agreed to launch the formal consultation by the summer of next year. The plan will set out our policy for the sustainable use of the marine area for the next 20 years.

Thank you for that response, but I’m sure you would agree with me that this plan is long overdue. We’ve been awaiting it now for so long and it is disappointing that we won’t see it until next summer. But would the Cabinet Secretary confirm that the plan will be based on habitat or ecosystems management, and that that, more than the spatial plan, will drive this plan?

I do appreciate that we have been waiting for this, and I have—I think I said at the committee when I came for scrutiny that it is a priority, but it’s important we get it right. It’s very complex. It’s the first one—I think we’re being pioneering in Wales, having this plan. I think it’s very important to help us manage our seas in a much more integrated way, because we are seeing much more activity in the marine area. I also wanted to take into consideration the Hendry review, and Ken Skates and I met with Charles Hendry last month. So, that’s why it’s been slightly more delayed. If we can do it earlier than next summer, I’ll be very happy to do that, but we are looking at all options.