Pollution response

Navigation authorities have a statutory duty to respond to pollution incidents in their waters.

This underpins the government's national duty and complements the Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) National Contingency Plan. The MCA approves navigation authority plans and helps them respond to incidents. Other agencies - especially local authorities and organisations with environmental responsibilities - also plan for such incidents.

Our Oil Spill Contingency Plan is intended to guide our staff and other responsible organisations through managing an oil spill in navigable parts of the Broads network.

It has been compiled in consultation with the following statutory bodies and authorities:

• Environment Agency
• Natural England
  
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
• Norfolk County Council
• Great Yarmouth Port Authority

In view of the very high conservation value of the Broads additional consultation has taken place with:

• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
• Norfolk Wildlife Trust
• Suffolk Wildlife Trust

The Broads is also an internationally important resource for boating recreation. Consultation has therefore taken place with:

• Broads Hire Boat Federation
• Norfolk and Suffolk Yachting Association
• British Marine Federation