Certain low-risk, small-scale developments in the marine area will soon be exempted from licensing under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.
The Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities) (Amendment) Order 2013 comes into force from 6 April 2013 so activities including sediment and other scientific sampling, removal of objects accidentally deposited on the seabed and small scale maintenance dredging may no longer require a marine licence from Marine Management Organisation (MMO).
The move follows a consultation led by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in summer and autumn 2012 on proposals to modify or introduce new exemptions to the Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities) Order 2011.
[mappress]
Press Release, March 19, 2013