Marine Conservation
In order to support the Government’s ambition to protect and restore clean healthy, productive and biologically diverse marine ecosystems, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) undertakes a range of marine conservation activities.
The MMO work closely with Natural England, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs) and others to manage activities in marine protected areas (MPAs), and ensure that our most vulnerable and rare species and habitats are protected.
We are responsible for ensuring that the activities we regulate are compatible with the conservation objectives of our MPAs. We therefore have an important role in supporting the implementation of the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, in particular the protection and enhancement of our marine environment through the delivery of a well-managed network of MPAs.
For fishing and non-licensable activity (e.g. marine recreational activities) our management measures are informed by detailed assessments of the impacts of these activities on our MPAs, as well as engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. We then introduce, monitor, enforce and review effective and proportionate management measures which safeguard the marine environment, while supporting environmentally sustainable marine activities to thrive.
We also have a duty to ensure activities that may impact marine protected species are effectively managed in line with relevant wildlife legislation. If required, the MMO has powers to issue marine wildlife licences for specific reasons to allow activities to occur which would otherwise be prohibited and result in a wildlife offence. Through the marine wildlife licensing process we consult various stakeholders, including Natural England and JNCC, in order to make informed decisions about whether or not to issue a licence, and the appropriate conditions to set to support the continued protection of these species and habitats.
Find out more about how activities requiring a marine licence are managed to support MPAs.