This groundbreaking piece of legislation will greatly improve the way the United Kingdom uses its marine resources and maximises the benefits it gets from them. Through the Act UK Administrations are now in the process of introducing new systems for marine planning and licensing within the policy framework provided by a UK Marine Policy Statement adopted by all UK administrations in March 2011. England’s first marine plans and a National Marine Plan for Scotland will be published for consultation in 2013. Verified by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).