The Marine and Coastal Access Bill received Royal Assent on 12 November 2009.

"This is the first time the UK has had such a coherent and coordinated approach to managing our seas," Environment Minister Jane Davidson said as the Marine and Coastal Access Bill was passed into law.

The main provisions within the Act include:

* Providing a statutory system of marine spatial planning – so that the sea has a planning system as well as the terrestrial environment;

* Powers for the Welsh Assembly Government to protect important habitats and species by creating Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs).

* New powers for the Welsh Assembly Government to manage fisheries in Welsh waters.

* New powers for the Welsh Assembly Government to license activities taking place in the marine environment;

* A new Measure-making power for National Assembly for Wales that will enable the Assembly Government to bring forward proposals for improving public access to the coast in due course.

Ms Davidson added:

"This Act represents real progress and addresses concerns that have been made over the past 30 years. The UK will now have a much stronger joined-up approach to managing our seas. Ministers from the four administrations have worked closely together to secure more effective management of our vitally important marine environment. The Act helpfully fills important gaps and provides a balance between the needs of marine wildlife and the needs of people.

"Here in Wales we have a rich marine environment and people come from all over the world to enjoy our coast and waters. Protecting this environment is one of the biggest challenges we face. We want our seas to be clean, healthy and biologically diverse. They must be managed sensibly and responsibly for the sake of our economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing. The Act’s provisions will help us deliver this and ensure that the marine environment is in a healthy condition now and in the future. "