Marine licensing

The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (MCAA 2009) deals with the management and increased protection of the marine environment and improves recreational access to coasts. MCAA 2009:

1. •

   established the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to produce marine plans, administer marine environmental licensing, manage marine fisheries and enforce environmental protection laws. The Marine Management Organisation is an independent non-Departmental Public Body, and delivers marine functions for the UK Government as a whole

2. •

   introduced a new system of marine planning setting out long-term objectives for the marine area around the UK in a Marine Policy Statement and more detailed marine plans setting spatial policy at a more local level

3. •

   introduced a streamlined, transparent and consistent system for licensing marine developments replacing existing controls under Part II of the Coast Protection Act 1949 and Part II of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985

4. •

   introduced a flexible new mechanism for the designation of Marine Conservation Zones which, together with European Marine Sites, form a representative network of Marine Protected Areas. This is to help fulfil the UK’s European and International commitments for the establishment