Policy paper

Marine environment: unexploded ordnance clearance Joint Position Statement

This is a Joint Position Statement about minimising the impacts of unexploded ordnance clearance in the marine environment.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Marine Management Organisation, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Natural England and The Scottish Government
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  Natural Resources Wales, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Northern Ireland), Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning, and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
• Published: 21 January 2025

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Marine environment: unexploded ordnance clearance Joint Position Statement

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An increase in marine development is leading to the discovery of a greater amount of unexploded ordnance, which need to be cleared to protect human life and infrastructure.  

Low noise methods of clearance are now commercially available and cause less environmental harm that the traditional method of detonation.

The UK government and devolved governments have national and international obligations relating to the management of our seas and the protection of habitats and species.

This joint statement therefore sets out the collective position of the UK government, devolved governments and associated bodies on clearing unexploded ordnance within the UK marine environment, in relation to commercial marine developments.

Published 21 January 2025