The Third National Adaptation Programme (NAP3) establishes the basis for action over the next 5 years, building on and developing the approach from previous rounds since 2012.

Actions identified for coastal and marine habitats and species include creation, restoration and enhancement of estuarine, coastal and marine habitats and developing an approach for marine net gain which when implemented with work to maximise the opportunities from the Offshore Wind Environmental Improvement Package, will result in improved and expanded marine habitats.

To build resilience from human pressures such as pollution, destruction of habitats through development and fishing Defra will:

• protect our MPAs from damaging fishing activity by the end of 2024, and deliver our new statutory target for 70% of the designated features in the MPA network to be in favourable condition by 2042
• explore more sites following the designation of the first 3 Highly Protected Marine Areas in English waters
• reduce the pollution of marine habitats from transitional (freshwater) and coastal water bodies through the Water Environment Regulations objective to achieve Good Ecological Status for 75% of water bodies by 2027
• develop and implement 16 Fisheries Management Plans to restore or maintain fish stocks to sustainable levels in the context of present and future climate change, which are being developed between 2023 and 2028 to cover English waters.

The report also notes that Defra will:

• support world-leading science and evidence, such as the UK Climate Projections
• jointly fund a forthcoming £15 million UK Research and Innovation /Defra programme to support the research and innovation needed to deliver adaptation action.

Nevertheless, the UK remains out of EU ‘Horizon Europe’ Framework programme, to the dismay of many scientists.

To read the full NAP3 report click here.