Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009

[F1137GInterim orders made by the DepartmentU.K.

(1)The Department may make one or more orders relating to the exploitation of sea fisheries resources in the Northern Ireland offshore region for the purpose of protecting any feature in any area in that region if the Department thinks—

(a)that the appropriate authority should consider whether to designate the area as an MCZ, and

(b)that there is an urgent need to protect the feature.

(2)An interim order under this section must contain a description of the boundaries of the area to which it applies (which must be no greater than is necessary for the purpose of protecting the feature in question).

(3)Subsections (4) to (10) of section 137E apply to an interim order under this section.

(4)An interim order under this section—

(a)comes into force on a date specified in the order, and

(b)remains in force (unless revoked) for such period, not exceeding 12 months, as is specified in the order.

(5)The Department may by further order extend the period for which the interim order is in force for a period not exceeding 6 months.

(6)The Department must publish notice of the making of an interim order under this section.

(7)The notice under subsection (6) must—

(a)be published in such manner as the Department think is most likely to bring the order to the attention of any persons who are likely to be affected by the making of it;

(b)give an address at which a copy of the order may be inspected;

(c)state that any person affected by the making of the order may make representations to the Department.

(8)The Department must keep under review the need for an interim order under this section to remain in force.

(9)In this section “feature” means any flora, fauna, habitat or feature which could be a protected feature if the area in question were designated as an MCZ.]