The Secretary of State must take such steps to encourage research and scientific work relating to the offshore marine area as he considers necessary, having regard to the objectives in Article 2, and the obligation in Article 11, of the Habitats Directive.

The Secretary of State must supply such information relating to the offshore marine area as he considers appropriate to member States and to the Commission to further the proper co-ordination of research carried out by member States or by any Community institution for the purposes of the Habitats Directive.

In deciding what steps to take under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State must have particular regard to the need for research and other scientific work in order to implement Article 4 of the Habitats Directive.