Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009

136 Interim orders

(1) The Welsh Ministers may make one or more orders for the purpose of protecting any feature in an area in Wales if they think—

(a) that there are or may be reasons to consider whether to designate the area as an MCZ, and

(b) that there is an urgent need to protect the feature.

(2) In this Chapter “interim order” means an order under subsection (1).

(3) An interim order must contain a description of the boundaries of the area to which it applies (which must be no greater than is necessary for the purpose of protecting the feature in question).

(4) Subsections (2) to (5) of section 134 apply to an interim order as they apply to an order under that section, except that any reference to an MCZ is to be read as a reference to the area to which the interim order applies.

(5) An interim order—

(a) comes into force on a date specified in the order, and

(b) remains in force (unless revoked) for such period, not exceeding 12 months, as is specified in the order.

(6) The Welsh Ministers must publish notice of the making of an interim order.

(7) The notice under subsection (6) must—

(a) be published in such manner as the Welsh Ministers think is most likely to bring the order to the attention of any persons who are likely to be affected by the making of it;

(b) give an address at which a copy of the order may be inspected;

(c) state that any person affected by the making of the order may make representations to the Welsh Ministers.

(8) The Welsh Ministers must keep under review the need for an interim order to remain in force.

(9) The Welsh Ministers may by further order extend the period for which an interim order remains in force.

(10) In this section “feature” means any flora, fauna, habitat or feature which could be a protected feature if the area in question were designated as an MCZ.