http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/23/section/243Marine 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 Database2026-04-13Expert Participation2026-03-25 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 8Chapter 12431The Scottish Ministers may appoint persons for the purposes of enforcing section 140 of this Act.2For the purposes of enforcing section 140 of this Act, a person appointed under this section has the common enforcement powers conferred by this Act.3Subject to subsections (8) and (9), the powers which a person appointed under this section has for the purposes of enforcing section 140 of this Act may be exercised—ain the Scottish offshore region (and in relation to any vessel, aircraft or marine installation in that region);bin any area within the United Kingdom or the UK inshore region, in relation to an offence which the person reasonably believes has been committed within the Scottish offshore region;cin relation to any vessel, aircraft or marine installation in any other area within the UK marine area which has been pursued there in accordance with subsection (4).4A vessel, aircraft or marine installation is pursued in accordance with this subsection if—aimmediately before the pursuit of the vessel, aircraft or installation commences, the vessel, aircraft or installation is in the Scottish offshore region,bbefore the pursuit of the vessel, aircraft or installation commences, a signal is given for it to stop, andcthe pursuit of the vessel, aircraft or installation is not interrupted.5The signal referred to in subsection (4)(b) must be given in such a way as to be audible or visible from the vessel, aircraft or installation in question.6For the purposes of subsection (4)(c), pursuit is not interrupted by reason only of the fact that—athe method of carrying out the pursuit, orbthe identity of the vessel or aircraft carrying out the pursuit,changes during the course of the pursuit.7Nothing in this section affects any right of hot pursuit which a person appointed under this section may have under international law.8The powers which a person appointed under this section has for the purposes of enforcing section 140 of this Act may not be exercised in relation to any British warship.9The powers which a person appointed under this section has for the purposes of enforcing section 140 of this Act may not be exercised in relation to any vessel within subsection (10) unless—ain the case of a third country vessel, other than a vessel falling within paragraph (b) or (c) of that subsection, the United Kingdom is entitled under international law to exercise those powers without the consent of the flag state, orbthe Commissioners have given authority to exercise those powers.10The vessels are—aa third country vessel;ba warship that is being used by the government of a State other than the United Kingdom;cany other vessel that is being used by such a government for any non-commercial purpose.11The Commissioners may give authority under subsection (9)(b) only if the flag state has consented to the United Kingdom exercising those powers (whether generally or in relation to the vessel in question).12In giving such authority, the Commissioners must impose such conditions or limitations on the exercise of the powers as are necessary to give effect to any conditions or limitations imposed by the flag state.13In this section “UK inshore region” means the area of sea within the seaward limits of the territorial sea adjacent to the United Kingdom.S. 243 in force at 12.1.2010 by S.I. 2009/3345, art. 2, Sch. para. 19Pt. 8: power to apply (with modifications) conferred (12.2.2026) by Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Act 2026 (c. 6), ss. 14(4)(g), 32(1) (with s. 30)