http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/23/section/124Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009An Act to make provision in relation to marine functions and activities; to make provision about migratory and freshwater fish; to make provision for and in connection with the establishment of an English coastal walking route and of rights of access to land near the English coast; to enable the making of Assembly Measures in relation to Welsh coastal routes for recreational journeys and rights of access to land near the Welsh coast; to make further provision in relation to Natural England and the Countryside Council for Wales; to make provision in relation to works which are detrimental to navigation; to amend the Harbours Act 1964; and for connected purposes.texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-09-16Expert Participation2026-08-09 Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009s. 72A(2A)Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023s. 232(2)(d)s. 247s. 255(9)(a)Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009s. 72A(6)(a)Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023s. 232(2)(f)(i)s. 247s. 255(9)(a)Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009s. 72A(6)(a)Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023s. 232(2)(f)(ii)s. 247s. 255(9)(a)Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009s. 72A(6)(b) and wordLevelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023s. 232(2)(f)(iii)s. 247s. 255(9)(a) Part 5 Chapter 11241Before the end of every relevant period, the appropriate authority must lay before the appropriate legislature a report setting out—athe extent to which, in the opinion of the authority, the objective in section 123(2) has been achieved;bany further steps which, in the opinion of the authority, are required to be taken in order to contribute to the achievement of that objective.2The report must also contain the following information—athe number of MCZs which the authority has designated during the relevant period;bin relation to each such MCZ—ithe size of the MCZ, andiithe conservation objectives which have been stated for the MCZ;cthe number of MCZs designated by the authority in which the following activities are prohibited or significantly restricted—iany licensable marine activity;iifishing for or taking animals or plants from the sea;dinformation about any amendments which the authority has made to any orders made under section 116;ethe extent to which, in the opinion of the authority, the conservation objectives stated for each MCZ which it has designated have been achieved;fany further steps which, in the opinion of the authority, are required to be taken in relation to any MCZ in order to achieve the conservation objectives stated for it.3For the purposes of complying with its duty under this section, the appropriate authority for any area may direct the appropriate statutory conservation body for that area to carry out such monitoring of MCZs in that area as is specified in the direction.4A body that is given a direction under subsection (3) must comply with it.5In this section—“the appropriate legislature” means—in relation to the Secretary of State, Parliament;in relation to the Welsh Ministers, the National Assembly for Wales;in relation to the Scottish Ministers, the Scottish Parliament;“licensable marine activity” has the same meaning as in Part 4;“relevant period” means—the period beginning on the date on which this section comes into force and ending on 31 December 2012;each subsequent period of six years.S. 124 partly in force; s. 124 in force for specified purposes at 12.1.2010 see s. 324(2)(b)(i)Pt. 5 Ch. 1 applied (with modifications) (E.W.) (1.4.2010 except so far as relating to 2009 c. 23, s. 134 for which purpose the amendment comes into force immediately after that provision comes into force, 1.4.2010) by The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/490), reg. 1(2)(4)(a) 38(3)(4) (with regs. 38(5), 125)S. 124 modified (30.11.2017) by The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1012), regs. 1(2), 10(6) (with regs. 3(9), 4)Pt. 5 Ch. 1 applied (with modifications) (E.W.) (30.11.2017) by The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1012), regs. 1(2), 40(3)(4)Pt. 5 Ch. 1 applied (with modifications) by S.I. 1994/2716, reg. 36(3)(4) (as substituted (E.W.) (12.1.2010 for specified purposes, 12.12.2014 in so far as not already in force) by Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (c. 23), s. 324(2)(b)(i), Sch. 11 para. 4(1); S.I. 2014/3088, art. 2(b))S. 124 in force at 12.12.2014 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2014/3088, art. 2(a)S. 124 modified by SI 2007/1842, reg. 6(6) (as inserted (16.8.2012) by The Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/1928), regs. 1, 3(b))S. 124 modified by SI 2010/490 reg. 9A(6) (as substituted (16.8.2012) by The Conservation of Habitats and Species (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/1927), regs. 1(1), 8)Words in Pt. 5 Ch. 1 heading inserted (23.1.2021) by Fisheries Act 2020 (c. 22), s. 54(4)(d), Sch. 10 para. 7 (with Sch. 4 para. 31)