Steve Hull, ABPmer ‘Our latest White Paper explores key strategic issues that still need addressing if we are to successfully implement marine net gain‘

‘Net gain’ aims to leave the environment in a better state following development and to secure wider benefits for people and the environment. While progress has been made with developing an intertidal biodiversity metric, significant challenges remain if the metric is to be operationalised to deliver intertidal Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).

In particular, while a metric is seen as a vital component of any system of BNG, there are many other components also vital to the effective operation of the overall system on which little meaningful progress has been made. For example, as we highlighted in our first marine net gain White Paper, much of the strategic framework necessary to support implementation of marine net gain is not yet in place.

There is currently a lack of strategic objectives for intertidal or subtidal net gain, a lack of identified priority locations for strategic interventions and no clear delivery pathway. If an intertidal metric is adopted before adequately addressing these strategic issues, then we are in danger of creating an obligation without a practical means of delivery.

Separately, work is urgently required to take forward development of a practical metric covering subtidal areas to enable offshore marine industries to contribute to net gain. As described in our second marine net gain paper, it is possible to develop a metric covering impacts both to habitats and species if there is the political will.

Our latest White Paper in the Marine Net Gain series explores in more detail some of the strategic issues that need to be addressed to support implementation of a system of net gain in the marine and coastal environment, and makes recommendations on how this might be achieved.

To learn more, download the White Paper at our OMReg microsite.