The role of UK statutory nature conservation agencies in the environmental governance of fisheries

The subject of this chapter is the increasing role of statutory nature conservation PF agencies (NCAs) in fisheries governance in the UK. There are three main sections: in the first section, we set out the powers and responsibilities of UK NCAs in relation to the designation of marine sites and the potential for them to be protected from fishing activity. In the second section, we explain the wider strategic role of NCAs in helping to shape future fisheries policy at European, UK, national and local levels. In the third section, we discuss how effective NCAs are in fulfilling each of these roles, and what the main obstacles are to improving their effectiveness.