Guidance

Do I need a marine licence?

Guidance on activities that may require a marine licence.

From:
Marine Management Organisation
Published
2 October 2014
Last updated
27 January 2025 — See all updates

Applies to England and Northern Ireland

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Before checking if you need a marine licence, please ensure that you are familiar with the methodology, location, and the maximum scope of the proposed works. Your proposed works may involve multiple marine licensable activities; therefore, you should assess each stage of your proposed works. This ensures you are applying for all the marine licensable activities planned to be undertaken within your application. If there are any changes to the scope, location or methodology of the proposed works, you should revisit the Marine Licensing Tool.

Overview 

Many activities that take place in and around the sea need a marine licence. It’s your responsibility to find out if your activity needs a marine licence. This will usually depend on: 

  • What the activity is  
  • Where the activity will take place 
  • How the activity will be carried out 

Jurisdiction

The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 provides that a marine licence is required for certain activities carried out within the UK marine area.

The MMO is responsible for marine licensing in English waters and for Northern Ireland offshore waters.

The MMO is also responsible for marine licensing of some activities in other parts of the world.

Find out more about the MMO’s jurisdiction

Check if you need a marine licence 

You can check if you need a marine licence using our Marine Licencing Tool  

You will find out: 

  • if your activity falls within the jurisdiction of the MMO 
  • if an exemption will apply  
  • if your activity is suitable for a self-service marine licence 
  • if your activity requires a standard marine licence  

Activities that may need a marine licence

There are seven categories of activity that may need a marine licence. Follow the links below to find out more about the activities and the circumstances in which they may need a marine licence: 

You can apply for the following

Standard marine licence 

A standard marine licence is for all activities not covered by an exemption or by a self-service marine licence.

You can apply for a standard marine licence online.   

Self-service marine licence 

A self-service marine licence is suitable for activities that are considered by the MMO to be low risk. The MMO considers activities low risk if they’re consistent in nature and extent.

You can apply for a self-service marine licence online.  

Exemption from a marine licence 

An exemption removes the need for a marine licence for some activities in certain circumstances. 

You’ll need to meet the qualifying criteria and conditions for an exemption.  In some circumstances you may also need to notify the MMO about your activities even if your activity is exempt.  

Find out what action you need to take if your activity is exempt and if you need to notify the MMO. 

The MMO uses exemptions to provide proportionate regulation of the marine environment.  

The MMO can take enforcement action if your activity does not meet the terms of the exemption which you have applied for.  

Other consents 

Activities in and around the marine environment might need consents from other bodies, in addition to a marine licence. This can be the case even if your activity does not need a self-service marine licence or a standard marine licence from the MMO. 

If your activity could impact a protected species or habitat, you may need a wildlife licence. Find out more about a wildlife licence.  

If your activity will physically interact with the foreshore (including estuarine) or seabed owned by The Crown Estate you may need a seabed survey licence or coastal survey licence. A map of The Crown Estate’s foreshore and estuary ownership is available on their Open Data Portal.  

  • If your activity also takes place on land, you may need planning permission from the local planning authority.   
  • If your activity includes discharge of water, you may need a environmental permit from the Environment Agency.  
  • If your activity includes abstractions of water, you may need a water abstraction licence from the Environment Agency.  
  • If your activity takes place in a Site of Special Scientific interest (SSSI) you may need consent from Natural England.  
  • If you are planning an offshore energy generation station you may need other consents from the MMO.   
  • Harbour authorities carrying out port developments may need a harbour order.   

Marine licence fees  

There is a fixed fee for a self-service marine licence, and a variable fee for a standard marine licence. Find out more about our fees.

Updates to this page

Published 2 October 2014
Last updated 27 January 2025 + show all updates

  1. text amends

  2. Draft update

  3. Update added to "Other consents".

  4. Removed paragraph on monitoring survey

  5. 06 June 2023 update.

  6. COVID-19 update

  7. Diving guidance added

  8. New content for burial at sea as fees and process has changed in recent months - linked to new page

  9. Updated to reflect new self-service approach to marine licensing

  10. Included links to the specific guidance around exemptions

  11. edited content to reflect additional exempted activities guidance

  12. Approved list of tracers, conditions and best practice text and PDF added

  13. Link added: Maintenance dredge protocol

  14. Navigational dredging text updated

  15. Information on pontoons and aquaculture added

  16. First published.

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