Marine Planning Glossary

A

Access - how communities and people can reach, use and move through marine and coastal areas. This includes public access, such as physical access to the marine area and related facilities for recreation. It also includes information, interpretation and virtual experiences that help people understand and engage with the marine area. 

Adaptation - how habitats, species and populations respond to changes in the environment. This can happen naturally over time. It can also involve actions to reduce the effects of climate change and coastal change (UK Marine Policy Statement Section 2.6.7).   

Advanced modular reactor - a new generation of nuclear reactor technology using novel fuels and coolants to generate heat, electricity and hydrogen.

Air pollution - a mixture of gases and particles released into the atmosphere by human activities. Many substances can pollute the air, and some are covered by UK-wide air quality standards . The UK has targets to reduce five harmful pollutants: fine particulate matter (PM2.5), ammonia (NH3), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs). Sources of direct air pollution include activities physically located within the development site, such as on-site vessels, machinery, combustion processes, and operational activities. 

Alternative development - is a change in the use of the existing landing facility to another land-use class. Existing uses of landing facilities include the loading and unloading of goods, catch, freight or waste.

Alternative fuels - encompasses low carbon and zero and near-zero greenhouse gas emissions fuels able to replace fossil fuels to power ships.

Alternative use of dredge sediment  - the use of sediment for a range of purposes. This includes environmental use, construction materials and land-claim, in addition to beach nourishment and other environmental enhancements. Environmental use may be referred to as beneficial re-use of dredge sediment and includes habitat creation, replenishment, and nature-based solution coastal defences.  

Ambient noise - all sound present underwater in a given environment, generated from both natural and human activities. This is often referred to as background noise.

Anoxic - to be without oxygen (for example, anoxic sediments are sediments without oxygen).

Applicant  - an organisation or individual that applies for authorisation, for example those applying for authorisation in relation to a development or activity (see ‘Development’).

Aquaculture - the controlled cultivation of aquatic organisms (including fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and aquatic plants) for food production, resource enhancement, or environmental restoration. Marine planning policies refer exclusively to practices in the marine environment including fish farming, shellfish farming, and seaweed cultivation. 

Archaeological or historic interest - includes all traces of human existence having a cultural, historical or archaeological character, such as:

• sites, structures, buildings, artefacts and human remains, together with their archaeological and natural context.
• vessels, aircraft, other vehicles or any part thereof, their cargo or other contents, together with their archaeological and natural context, and objects of prehistoric character.

Area of search - a broad area (of seabed and associated water column) within which some development or other activity may be acceptable, subject to detailed consideration, for example, mineral extraction or renewable energy generation. The term can refer to areas of search used by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee for offshore Special Areas of Conservation and may be defined in map format by the relevant organisations involved, depending on the sector concerned.

Areas of geological extraction potential - areas in which undeveloped oil and gas discoveries may exist below the seabed, having been identified through exploration work, but have not yet seen any production, extraction or development. 

Authorisation - normally relates to something that can be applied for. See also ‘Decisions’.

Authorised dredge areas - any location where dredging legally takes place, this includes:

• those that are licensed.
• those that are exempt from a licence due to local legislation, such as a harbour order or local act.
• those that are exempt from a licence due to the volume of sediment being dredged, subject to the conditions set out in article 18A of The Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities) Order 2011.

Avoid - to prevent the impact by removing the source. Proposals are designed so that adverse impacts are no longer received by the receptor.

B

Biodiversity - the variety of all life on earth, including the diversity within and between all plant and animal species and the diversity of ecosystems.

Blue carbon capture and storage - A regulating ecosystem service where coastal and marine habitats store organic carbon. The UK Blue Carbon Evidence Partnership - Evidence Needs Statement outlines how blue carbon habitats can be managed increase carbon storage or reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Examples of blue carbon habitats include:

• kelp forests.
• saltmarshes.
• seafloor sediments.
• seagrass beds.

Bunkering - the process of supplying fuel to a ship.

C

Capital dredging - the deepening or widening of an existing navigable area, or enabling an entirely new channel for access to a new facility. Capital dredging allows improvement of access, for example, to allow bigger and deeper vessels, longer optimum tidal windows, and the provision of passing places. This area will not have been dredged during the preceding 10 years.

Carbon capture, usage and storage - a technology that captures carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes and energy generation, for use or permanent geological storage.

Carbon dioxide storage site - an offshore geological formation used, or identified as potentially suitable, for the long-term storage of carbon dioxide.

Circular economy - an economic system that keeps materials, products, and energy in use at their highest value for as long as possible.

Climate change - a change in the state of the climate that persists over a long period of time (eg decades or longer; Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report). Climate change can be driven by natural processes and human activities. However, the burning of fossil fuels (eg coal, gas and oil) by humans is the largest contributor to global climate change (Causes and Effects of Climate Change).

Climate change adaptation measures - measures to help developments or activities to reduce or protect against the impact of climate change.

Coastal change - physical changes to coastal areas caused by processes such as erosion, landslip, permanent flooding, or sediment build‑up, as described in the UK Marine Policy Statement Section 2.6.8.

Coastal Community - a group of people living along a coastline whose daily lives, livelihoods, and culture are directly linked to the sea.

Coastal shipping - maritime transport of passengers or cargo along a coastline or between ports within the same country.

Coastal squeeze - the loss of natural habitats or deterioration of their quality arising from anthropogenic structures or actions, preventing the landward transgression of those habitats that would otherwise naturally occur in response to sea level rise in conjunction with other coastal processes. Coastal squeeze affects habitats on the seaward side of existing structures.

Co-existence - where multiple developments, activities, or uses occur alongside, or in proximity to each other in the same area, or at the same time. Co-existence may be:

• Active co-existence - where control or management is needed to allow activities to take place alongside each other without conflict. This may involve soft constraints, where activities share space if certain conditions are met. In some cases, hard constraints apply, meaning an activity requires exclusive use of an area and cannot take place alongside other activities.
• Passive co-existence  (synergy) - where two or more activities take place alongside one another without additional management or control.

Collaboration on Offshore Wind Strategic Compensation (COWSC) - a collaborative governance group that brings together industry, environmental Non-Governmental Organisations, Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies, the UK government and Devolved Governments, and other relevant stakeholders. Existing and future strategic compensation measures in the Library of Strategic Compensatory Measures are developed through the Collaboration on Offshore Wind Strategic Compensation.

Co-location - where multiple developments (often structures), activities or uses share the same marine footprint or area, either temporally or spatially (by using different portions of the water column). The footprint can include both the physical location of a development or activity, for example, a built structure, and a wider area associated with the development or activity, for example, a surrounding safety zone.

Continuous underwater noise - low frequency; long duration sounds that propagate through the marine environment. This encompasses continuous noise from shipping propulsion and cavitation from propellers, the operation of wind turbines and operational vibrational noise from boats or dredging and other recreational activities.

Compensate - to provide an act in return for causing adverse impacts. 

Co-operation - describes the positive working relationship between marine sectors to secure long-term beneficial and sustainable growth for all. Sectors need to communicate effectively when considering how multiple uses will interact within a shared space to identify opportunities to optimise the use of the area.

Cross-border impacts - originate from a source that has the ability to extend and affect a sector, activity or use across terrestrial and/or marine borders in a positive or negative manner.

Cultural features - refers to the non-tangible aspects of the legacy of human interaction with the sea. These may include:

• fishing activities.
• folklore linked to how people lived.
• traditional practices.

They reflect the cultural significance of an area and contribute to a community’s identity and wellbeing.

Cumulative effects - the combined impacts of past, present, or expected future activities add to the effects of a current proposal. These effects can go beyond the boundaries of the proposal site. These may be:

• Additive cumulative effects - the total cumulative effect is the sum of all individual effects.
• Synergistic cumulative effects  - the total effect is greater than the sum of the individual effects.

D

Decisions - there are two types of ‘decision’ specified in Section 58 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 that are to be made by public authorities and will involve consideration of the marine plans.

First, ‘an authorisation or enforcement decision’, which is defined in Section 58(4) of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 as:

1. the determination of any application (whenever made) for authorisation of the doing of any act which affects or might affect the whole or any part of the UK marine area.
2. any decision relating to any conditions of such an authorisation.
3. any decision about extension, replacement, variation, revocation or withdrawal of any such authorisation or any such conditions (whenever granted or imposed).
4. any decision relating to the enforcement of any such authorisation or any such conditions.
5. any decision relating to the enforcement of any prohibition or restriction (whenever imposed) on the doing of any act, or of any act of any description, falling within paragraph (a).

It does not include any decision on an application for an order granting development consent under the Planning Act 2008 (c. 29) (in relation to which subsection (3) has effect accordingly). 

Examples include a decision to grant or refuse a marine licence in accordance with Part 4 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, or planning permission granted by a local planning authority if the permission is capable of affecting part of the marine area. Such decisions must be taken ‘in accordance with’ the marine plans (Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 Section 58(1)) unless relevant considerations indicate otherwise. An exception is a decision under the Planning Act 2008 on applications for development consent for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, where public authorities are required to ‘have regard to’ marine plans.

Secondly, the term relates to any other decision which relates to the exercise of any function capable of affecting the UK marine area, but which is not an authorisation or enforcement decision. Examples include the designation of Marine Protected Areas or byelaws that do not extend/replace/vary/revoke or withdraw an authorisation. A public authority must ‘have regard to’ the marine plans when taking any such decision (the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 Section 58(3)). 

Decommissioning - the process of taking marine infrastructure out of service at the end of its operational life, including the implementation of an approved programme to remove, partially remove, or otherwise manage installations and associated infrastructure, clear the seabed, and ensure that the site is left in a safe condition with appropriate regard to the marine environment and other users.

Decommissioning programme - owners and operators of offshore installations and submarine pipelines must identify all the items of equipment, infrastructure and materials that have been installed or drilled, and describe the decommissioning solution for each. 

Designated Heritage Assets - heritage assets that are statutorily recognised for their historic, architectural, archaeological, or cultural significance. In marine and coastal areas, these assets include types such as:

• protected wreck sites and structures within the intertidal zone.
• registered landscapes and locally designated conservation areas.
• scheduled monuments.
• world heritage sites maintained under the UNESCO World Heritage Convention (1972).

In the English marine area, heritage assets are formally designated under specific legislation, including: 

• items listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.
• protected places and controlled sites designated under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.
• restricted areas designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973.
• scheduled monuments designated under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

Development - built infrastructure and certain activities listed under Section 66 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 and other legislation, for example, oil and gas activities (under the Petroleum Act 1998) and carbon dioxide storage (under the Energy Act 2008), including Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects under the Planning Act 2008 (Section 14). The definition is analogous to that in Section 55 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 of “carrying out of building, engineering, mining or other operations in, on, over or under land, or the making of any material change in the use of any buildings or other land”. The term encompasses, but is not restricted to, what is sometimes commonly called ‘development’. Examples include built or fixed structures, such as a gas platform or a wind farm comprising pilings, turbines, and associated structures (convertor stations, etc), and activities such as aggregate extraction and maintenance dredging.

Displacement - a change in the spatial distribution of receptors (eg species or human activities) caused by an activity, resulting in their reduced presence within or adjacent to the affected area.

• species displacement: a behavioural response in which individuals move away from an area where an activity is occurring or has occurred, resulting in a reduced presence within or adjacent to that area. This may restrict access to important habitats (eg foraging or breeding areas), particularly for mobile species.
• activity displacement: The spatial relocation or exclusion of human activities resulting from an anthropogenic activity or development, such that the activity can no longer occur in its original location (eg shipping traffic displaced by built infrastructure).

Disposal sites - designated areas in which dredged material is deposited. Disposal sites are classified into open, disused and closed sites. Alternative use sites, including beneficial use sites, are also considered as a category of disposal site and must be designated.

Disposal of dredged material - the relocation of dredged material. Dredged material can only be disposed of in identified sites subject, to the type of dredged material. Disposing of dredged material means that the material serves no further purpose; however, the exception to this is alternative use sites, which are also classified as disposal sites.

Distribution - describes how a species is spatially arranged over an area. Distribution can be viewed on various spatial scales, eg the distribution of individuals, population distribution or the distribution of an entire species.

Disturbance - any activity that causes a physical or behavioural response in an individual or group of individuals. This may cause the expenditure of extra time or energy to avoid the activity. Disturbance may be direct or indirect:

• Direct disturbance - disturbance resulting from immediate physical interaction or direct contact between human activity and a species.
• Indirect disturbance  - disturbance resulting from changes in environmental or sensory conditions (eg noise, light, turbidity) that affect species without direct physical contact.

Diversification - development or expansion of services into new activities to support economic resilience. In fisheries, this can include new fishing methods, targeting different species, adding value through processing or marketing, or undertaking complementary activities such as tourism where appropriate.  

Dredging activity - involves moving material from waterways, the sea or seabed using any device. There are two main types of navigational dredging: maintenance and capital.

E

Ecologically coherent network - a network of well-managed, resilient, and adequately sized marine protected areas that are connected through the movement of species and natural processes.  The network includes a range of marine habitats and species, with examples of each represented in more than one area.

Ecosystem - the dynamic complex of plant and animal communities and the surrounding non-living environment that supports them in the east marine plan areas.

Ecosystem approach - an ecosystem-based approach to the management of human activities means an approach that ensures that the collective pressure of human activities is kept within the levels compatible with the achievement of Good Environmental Status, does not compromise the capacity of marine ecosystems to respond to human-induced changes, and enables the sustainable use of marine goods and services. 

Ecosystem function - the collective physio-chemical, geochemical and biological processes that occur within the ecosystem. Ecosystem function is dependent on the relationship within, among and between species and the non-living environment, as well as the physical and chemical interactions within the environment. Effective ecosystem function can be reliant upon solar energy flow, for example photosynthesis by phytoplankton, and mineral and nutrient cycling such as the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, for example by saltmarsh, and water cycling. Ecosystem function can also include geomorphological processes that contribute towards geodiversity.

Ecosystem services - the direct and indirect benefits that ecosystems provide to people and nature.

Enhanced public access - improvements to existing public access infrastructure and services.

Essential fish habitats - support at least one of the basic life processes of a fish through its life cycle and include fish spawning, nursery and feeding grounds, and migratory routes.

Evidence - for the purpose of marine planning, evidence includes policy, data, information, surveys, maps, and any other relevant material. 

Exclusive economic zone - a sea zone extending up to 200 nautical miles prescribed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, over which a state has special rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources, including energy production from water and wind.

Existing and future planned activities - are those that currently occur in an area (existing) or are planned (for example safeguarded areas for future offshore wind or oil/gas development). ‘Existing activities’ also covers activities that have been authorised but not yet implemented and unregulated/non-licensable activities.

Exploration Licences - for non-exclusive seismic surveying.

Export cables - cables connecting offshore infrastructure, such as renewable energy platforms, to onshore substations where the electricity can be transmitted through the electricity grid system.

F

Fisheries - refers to the capture of wild marine organisms (fish and shellfish); commercial fishing can use a variety of mobile and static gear, vessels and locations.

Fixed foundation offshore wind farm - wind turbines installed on foundations attached to the seabed to harvest wind energy for electricity generation.

Floating offshore wind farm - wind turbines that are anchored to the seabed by mooring lines to harvest wind energy for electricity generation.

G

Geodiversity - the term used to describe the variety of landforms, rocks, minerals, fossils, soils and natural processes that underlie and determine the character of our landscape and seascape.

Greenhouse gases - gases that contribute to climate change.

Direct greenhouse gases, which contribute directly to climate change owing to their positive radiative forcing effect, include the following:

• carbon dioxide (CO2).
• methane (CH4).
• nitrous oxide (N2O).
• hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
• perfluorocarbons (PFCs).
• sulphur hexafluoride (SF6).
• nitrogen trifluoride (NF3).

Indirect greenhouse gases include:

• nitrogen oxides (NOx).
• carbon monoxide (CO).
• non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC).
• sulphur dioxide (SO2).

Good quality employment - work that is fair and provides opportunities for development and fulfilment. The principles of work quality are set out in the UK Government’s Good Work Plan.

Gross value added - a measure of the value that a sector or geographic area adds to the economy through the goods and services it produces. Further information in relation to marine planning is available in the Socio-economic Baseline for the east marine plan areas (MMO1381).

H

Habitat connectivity - the links between habitats within an ecosystem that allow species, organic matter and natural processes to move between them. Habitat connectivity helps maintain ecosystem function and may be:

• Functional connectivity - where habitats and ecosystem processes are connected in a way that supports the overall function of an ecosystem.
• Species connectivity - the movement of individuals, juveniles and groups of organisms between habitats, helping to prevent isolation of populations.
• Structural connectivity - where habitats are physically connected or close enough to allow movement of species between them (NF3).

Habitat enhancement - actions that increase the biodiversity value of a habitat improving the condition, structure, or species composition of existing habitats as outlined in the Environment Act 2021 and Environment Act Habitat Target - Definitions and Descriptions (TIN219) report.

Habitat restoration - actions taken to improve the ecological condition of an existing habitat. Restoration action includes removing environmental pressures and reinstating natural processes and species, including through habitat creation, as outlined in the Environment Act Habitat Target - Definitions and Descriptions (TIN219) report.  

Harbour - a natural or man-made area that provides shelter, safe and mooring for vessels. Harbours may support commercial, recreational and other marine activities.

Habitats Regulations Assessment - The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 and The Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 require a Habitats Regulations Assessment to be carried out on any proposed plan or project that has the potential to cause impacts on a European site within the UK national site network. The decision about whether a plan or project can proceed following a Habitats Regulations Assessment will be made by the relevant competent authority.

Heritage assets - elements of the historic environment, both designated and non-designated, that have been identified as holding a degree of significance. These can be distinguished between:

• Tangible heritage  - includes physical elements such as wrecks, buildings, structures, artefacts, and landscapes.
• Intangible heritage - includes non-physical cultural elements such as traditions, stories, practices, associations, and community value.

High density navigation routes - areas at sea along which shipping traffic travels. This term encompasses routes used by vessels of 300 gross tonnes or more, including cruise services. Passenger services are regular routes for these vessels (which may or may not overlap with high density navigation routes).

Highly mobile species - species that range over large distances and include certain fish species (including sharks), seabirds, seals and cetaceans. These species often belong to wider international populations and may only be present in the east marine plan areas seasonally, or during key life stages such as breeding, feeding or migration.

Historic environment - all aspects of the environment resulting from the interaction between people and places through time, including all surviving physical remains of past human activity, whether visible, buried or submerged.

Hydrogen - a gas that can be used to carry energy, in a similar way to natural gas. Once produced, hydrogen can be compressed and transported via dedicated or repurposed subsea pipelines and stored in geological formations on the UK Continental Shelf, such as salt caverns or depleted gas fields, before being used in industry, power generation, heavy transport or heat. 

Hydrogen production routes - Hydrogen can be produced from a range of sources:

• blue hydrogen - hydrogen produced by reforming natural gas with carbon dioxide captured and stored.
• green hydrogen - hydrogen produced through electrolysis of water powered by renewable electricity.
• grey hydrogen - hydrogen produced from natural gas without carbon capture - does not align with current UK decarbonisation objectives.
• pink hydrogen - hydrogen produced through electrolysis powered by nuclear energy.

I

Impulsive underwater noise - sounds of short-duration and high peak sound pressures (levels) across a broad frequency range. Impulsive noise can be generated from certain human activities including detonation of explosives, seismic surveys, geophysical surveys, active sonar, impact pile driving and acoustic deterrent devices.  

Inclusive public access - “equitable access for those who want to use and enjoy the coast, seas and their wide range of resources and assets” (UK Marine Policy Statement Section 2.2) through the improvement of existing or development of new access routes and their associated services. Inclusive public access also includes financial access. For example, where access costs are required, they should be justifiable and not prohibitive.

In-combination effects - the differing, additive or synergistic effects from multiple projects or activities on a single receptor. These are examples of cumulative effects (see above). The term ‘in-combination effects’ is particularly used in the context of Habitats Regulations Assessment (see above).

Indirect air pollution - Indirect air quality impacts include emissions arising from activities associated with, but not physically located within, the development site, such as supporting vessel movements, onshore transport, energy supply, and supply chain activities.

Industrial clusters - are locally concentrated groupings of industrial businesses that have the potential to share low carbon infrastructure and other benefits from locating together to achieve decarbonisation.

Infrastructure - a physical structure or facility, which could include, but is not limited to:

• aquaculture infrastructure, including trestles, longlines, buoys, cages, depuration plants, storage, transport and other supply chain facilities.
• boat repair facilities.
• coastal and estuarine combustion, hydrogen production and desalination plants.
• electric charging points for vessels.
• flood defence protection works.
• landing, storage and processing facilities for aggregates, fisheries and shellfisheries catch, freight or goods.
• launching and berthing facilities for tourism and recreation.
• nuclear power stations (inside areas of identified potential).
• slipways, floating docks and moorings.
• structures for passenger transfer.
• terminals for waste handling.
• utilities transmission, including maintenance bases, cables, pipelines, associated structures and operations.
• water and wastewater treatment plants.
• works to protect the safety of people, existing marine infrastructure, or the environment.

Interconnector cables - cables linking the UK to other countries and regions, such as Europe.

International Maritime Organization (IMO) - the United Nations agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.

International Maritime Organization routeing systems - established to maintain navigational safety by managing shipping traffic in busy areas and/or in response to prevailing hydrographic features.

J

Just transition - ensures a fair process of a shift to a more sustainable green economy which benefits workers and communities without leaving them behind, whilst simultaneously mitigating harm to traditional marine sectors.

K

Knowledge, understanding, appreciation and enjoyment - refers to awareness of the marine environment’s characteristics and functions, recognition of its value, benefits, and opportunities for people to experience and engage with it in a way that supports sustainable use and wider public benefit.

L

Landfall sites - areas on the coast where subsea cables come ashore. 

Landing facilities - structures, or amenities, that enable the loading or unloading of goods, catch, freight, waste or passengers by vessels (for example, aggregate and waste wharves, slipways, jetties and piers).

Landscape - an area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors. 

Leasing Round - A public tendering process where The Crown Estate Commissioners invite applications for the grant of exclusive rights to exploit the seabed for a specified purpose.

Library of Strategic Compensation Measures - a list of strategic compensation measures that have been approved by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which the Marine Recovery Fund may deliver to compensate for specific adverse effects on marine protected areas.

Licensing round (oil and gas) - the period during which government offers and then allocates a number of specified areas (blocks or part blocks) within its national boundaries for exploration to oil and gas companies, typically in return for fees and/or a commitment to carry out a work programme.

Lifetime of a proposal - the period over which a proposal is expected to remain in place and function. The lifetime of a proposal is defined on a case-by-case basis and includes all required delivery phases (ie construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning).

Local Planning Authority (or Local Authority) - an organisation that has powers under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to determine applications for planning permission and prepare local plans for its area.

In England, Local Authorities are:

• county councils in relation to any area in England for which there is no district council.
• district councils.
• London borough councils.
• metropolitan district councils.
• the Broads Authority.
• unitary authorities.

A national park authority is the Local Planning Authority for the whole of its area.

A combined authority is formed of two or more Local Authorities.

Low carbon hydrogen - encompasses all hydrogen production supported by the UK Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard and set out in the UK Hydrogen Strategy.

Low carbon technologies - include but not limited to:

• hydrogen.
• carbon capture usage and storage.
• renewable energy.
• nuclear technologies.

M

Man-made archaeological materials - are human-produced or human-altered artifacts, structures, and remains that provide information about past cultures, technologies, and ways of life. 

Marine aggregates - sand and gravel removed from the seabed, commonly intended for use in the construction industry, but may be used in flood defence and other industries.

• Marine aggregate extraction - the removal can only take place where commercially viable deposits of sand and gravel occur.
• Aggregate Exploration and Option Agreements - issued by The Crown Estate following the acceptance of a marine aggregates tender bid. The agreement grants a developer exclusive rights to investigate and assess marine aggregates within a defined area and provides an option to obtain future production rights, subject to resource viability, environmental assessment and all necessary statutory consents.
• Potential areas of opportunity - identified by The Crown Estate for marine aggregates and indicate spatial areas where future aggregate    extraction may be feasible subject to detailed assessment, leasing, licensing and all necessary consents.

Marine conservation zone - specific areas designated under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 for the purposes of conserving marine flora or fauna, marine habitats or features of geological or geomorphologic interest.

Marine litter/debris - items that have been made or used by people and deliberately discarded into the sea or rivers or on beaches; brought indirectly to the sea with rivers, sewage, storm water or winds; or accidentally lost, including material lost at sea in bad weather (fishing gear, cargo). 

Marine non-licensable activities - activities which do not require a marine licence (as defined by section 66 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009) and also excludes all types of fishing.

Marine protected areas - areas of the sea protected by law for nature conservation purposes.

Measures of Equivalent Environmental Benefit - used in the context of Marine Conservation Zones to refer to measures of equivalent environmental benefit to the damage that an act will, or is likely to have, in or on an Marine Conservation Zone.

Minimise - to reduce severity to the smallest possible amount or degree by altering the intensity of the source. Proposals are designed so that adverse impacts received by the receptor, before mitigation is applied, are reduced to the smallest possible amount or degree.

Mitigate - to reduce how an adverse impact is experienced by the receptor without altering it at the source.

N

Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project - are major infrastructure developments in England and Wales defined under Section 14 of the Planning Act 2008, and as amended by the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025. Examples of developments requiring consent under this Act include certain large offshore renewable energy (> 100Megawatts) and port developments.

Natural capital - refers to the stock of natural components of the environment, such as species, habitats, water, geological features, and ecological processes and functions, which provide ecosystem services and benefits to people.   

Natural noise - any sound produced by biological organisms or geophysical earth processes. This includes communication between marine fauna, wave action and lightning. Natural noise contributes towards the ambient background sound that makes up the UK’s marine soundscape.

Nature-inclusive design solutions - development approaches that incorporate natural features and processes into proposal design to help manage the risks arising from climate and coastal change, while also supporting biodiversity and long-term resilience (Nature-inclusive marine structures Code of Practice (PAS 1401:2025)).

Net gain - an approach to development that leaves the natural environment in a measurably better state than before development. Net gain may relate to biodiversity alone or to wider environmental benefits:

• Environmental net gain  - measurable improvements to the wider environment, including biodiversity and benefits such as flood protection, recreation and improved water and air quality.
• Biodiversity net gain - measurable improvements to biodiversity compared with its condition before development.

No longer viable - describes a landing facility that is not viable due to factors including market demands, size, shape and location.

Non-Designated Heritage Assets - heritage assets that are locally identified features of significance that merit consideration in planning decisions, but do not have statutory protection. In marine and coastal areas, these assets include examples such as:

• coastal features identified through local heritage lists or planning processes.
• non-designated wrecks.
• paleoenvironmental deposits.
• submerged archaeological sites.

These non-designated heritage assets are typically identified through local planning authorities, Historic Environment Records or other heritage assessments, ensuring locally significant sites are considered in planning decisions even if they are not legally designated.

Non-native species - (sometimes referred to as non-indigenous) are species that are introduced (for example by human action) outside of their natural past or present distribution. This includes any part, reproductive cells, seeds, eggs, or plant parts/spores of such species that might survive and subsequently reproduce. 

Nuclear power generation - the use of nuclear fission to generate energy, together with associated enabling activities required to support its construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning.

O

Offshore wind energy - renewable energy generated from the force of wind at sea.

Offshore Wind Potential Areas of Opportunity - areas of seabed with fixed boundaries and geographical locations defined by The Crown Estate as suitable for particular marine activities to take place.

Offshore wind supply chain - network to support the construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of offshore wind energy generation infrastructure.

Oil and gas activity - the exploration for and production of hydrocarbons beneath the seabed. Exploration typically involves surveys and sampling, while production uses fixed or floating infrastructure to extract, process and transport hydrocarbons. Production facilities usually have a small spatial footprint relative to the wider marine area.

Oil and gas licences - Oil and gas licences may be landward or seaward, and either for exploration (non-exclusive) or production (exclusive to a specific area and potentially including exploration). Licences are granted by the North Sea Transition Authority . Except in special circumstances, production licences generally have three successive phases covering exploration, development and production. A licence may expire if the requirements of a phase are not met.

P

Passenger services - commercial passenger transport services that are operated according to a published timetable.

Personal wellbeing - the contribution of natural and semi-natural environments to human physical, mental, and emotional health, as described in the Enabling a Natural Capital Approach - Services Databook 3.2.

Port Marine Safety Code - the safety code for harbour authorities with statutory powers and duties in the UK.

Ports - a commercial facility that includes land- and water-based infrastructure for vessels to load and unload cargo, passengers or other goods.

Precautionary principle - where evidence is inconclusive, decision-makers should make reasonable efforts to fill evidence gaps but will also need to apply precaution within an overall risk-based approach in accordance with the sustainable development policies of the UK administrations. This means that if the risks from an activity are uncertain, preventative measures may be required if there is concern that human activities may harm human health, living resources and marine ecosystems or interfere with other legitimate uses of the sea, or have other social and economic impacts. This would need to be considered based on risk.

Predicted No Effect Concentration - A derived environmental concentration representing a safe threshold below which adverse ecological effects are not expected to occur.

Pressure - the effects of any given activity over time in the marine area. Pressures can be physical, chemical or biological. The same pressure can be caused by a number of different activities, for example fishing using bottom gears and aggregate dredging both cause abrasion.

Priority habitats and species - species recognised as being of ‘principal importance’ for the conservation of biological diversity in England under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (Section 41). 

Proponent - an organisation or individual putting forward a ‘proposal’ (see below). Includes, but is not restricted to, ‘applicant’.

Proposals - general term, usually for something new but could also be for a change that encompasses development and uses, subject to management by public authorities, for example fishing or certain recreation activity, together with management measures. Proposals may relate to either type of decision specified in the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.  

Public authority - a Minister of the Crown, a public office holder, or a public body (the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, Section 322(1)). A public body includes government departments, the Crown Estate, local authorities, inshore fisheries conservation authorities and statutory undertakers. A ‘public office holder’ means a person holding an office under the Crown, an office created by an Act or devolved legislation, or an office paid for by Parliament. Public authorities are responsible for ensuring that relevant decisions (see ‘decisions’) take appropriate account of the marine plans and plan policies.

Public health, wellbeing and quality of life - evidence, from the People and Nature Survey and other sources (including Community Hubs and Green Space, demonstrates that time spent in green (terrestrial) and blue (aquatic marine and freshwater) natural environments generates positive physical and mental health and wellbeing benefits; this is picked-up in green and blue social prescribing by health professionals to encourage people to spend time in natural spaces on land and in the marine area to address their mental and physical health issues.  

R

Recreation - leisure activities undertaken by individuals within their usual living environment (eg near to where they live).

Renewable energy - energy generated from resources that are naturally replenished.

Renewable Energy Zone - The Renewable Energy Zone was declared under section 84 of the Energy Act 2004. It extends up to a maximum of 200 nautical miles from the baseline (usually the low water mark but with exceptions such as straight baselines across the mouths of some bays). The United Kingdom has claimed exclusive rights in this area with respect to production of energy from water or wind.

Resilience - the ability of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances within a reasonable timeframe.

Resilience to climate and coastal change - the ability of a proposal to respond, or adapt, to the impacts of climate and coastal change so that it retains much of its original function and form (Resilience: The emergence of a perspective for social-ecological systems analyses).

Re-use of oil and gas infrastructure - the repurposing of existing oil and gas infrastructure for an alternative use. The infrastructure referred to can include wells, trunk pipelines or platforms which, through re-use, can facilitate the transport and storage of captured carbon dioxide and the associated atmospheric benefits.

S

Safeguarded landing facilities - designated sites that protect their functioning for current and future use.

Seascape - landscapes with views of the coast or seas and the adjacent marine environment with cultural, historical and archaeological links with each other. 

Seascape character - the perception of an area and the combination of characteristics at the surface, within the water column and on the seabed.

Sediment cells - lengths of coastline and their associated nearshore areas within which the movement of coarse sediment (sand and shingle) is largely self-contained. Sediment cell boundaries can be viewed on the Sediment Resource Database. 

Sense of place is the attachments and emotional ties, that people develop with their places of residence or that are important to them, that foster community cohesion, pride and passion for an area and which raises aspirations and stimulates the local economy; there are two dimensions:

• place dependence: functional attachment that reflects the importance of a place’s past and present features and conditions that support specific goals or activities.
• place identity: emotional attachment refers to the spirit and symbolic importance of a place for the emotions and relationships that give people meaning and purpose to life.

Cefas and the Natural Capital Ecosystem Assessment programme have undertaken sense of place mapping in the east of England.

Setting - the surroundings in which a heritage asset is experienced. Its extent is not fixed and may change as the asset and its surroundings evolve. Elements of a setting may make a positive or negative contribution to the significance of an asset, may affect the ability to appreciate that significance, or may be neutral.

Settlement panels - artificial surfaces placed in a marine environment to allow organisms to attach, grow, and be studied over time.

Shadow marine conservation zone assessment and shadow habitats regulation assessment - an environmental report commissioned by a developer and prepared by an ecological consultant to assess how a proposed development might impact protected habitats or species. A shadow assessment does not replace the statutory assessment to be completed by the competent authority (in this case the MMO).

Shore power - the supply of electricity to a ship while docked in a port.

Short sea shipping - the movement of cargo and passengers by sea over short distances, including along the coast between domestic ports and to and from the UK to European ports.

Significance (heritage) - the value and importance of a heritage asset because of its archaeological, architectural, artistic, cultural or historic interest. This value can come from the asset itself and from its setting.

Site condition - the condition of the qualifying features of a marine protected area. The condition may be reported as favourable (maintained or recovered), unfavourable (recovering, no change or declining), or destroyed (partially or completely).

Skills strategies - designed to address skills issues inhibiting sustainable economic growth, while also helping to inform negotiations with the government to secure support for activities that develop required skills. Skills strategies run parallel to existing education and training guidance.

Small modular reactor - a nuclear reactor significantly smaller than a traditional nuclear power station, designed to be manufactured in modules and assembled at the site of deployment.

Social equity - ensuring everyone can benefit fairly from marine resources beyond purely economic and environmental goals. This includes addressing social inequality through recognising the needs of those who depend on or interact with the sea such as vulnerable coastal communities and fishers. 

Social value - the positive effects that an activity, development or investment can have on the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of people and communities. See the UK Government’s Procurement Policy Note 002: The Social Value Model for further information.  

Solid waste - a material is considered waste if the holder discards it, as defined in Environment Agency Guidance. A material is generally considered to be discarded when it is no longer suitable for use, is unwanted, or is surplus to requirements, such that it becomes a burden to the holder. Solid waste in the marine environment is commonly referred to as marine litter or marine debris.

Species migration - the seasonal movement of populations of animals, for example for breeding or feeding purposes. 

Statutory harbour authorities - statutory bodies responsible for the management and running of a harbour. The powers and duties in relation to a harbour are set out in local Acts of Parliament or a Harbour Order under the Harbours Act 1964. Harbour authorities may not require a marine licence for specific maintenance activities within their boundaries, such as some dredging activities. The Port Marine Safety Code- states that “a harbour authority’s statutory powers are subject to the Open Port Duty”.

Strategically important navigation routes - routes that are essential to regional, national and international trade.

Strategic Spatial Energy Plan - plan developed by the National Energy System Operator identifying strategic locations for electricity transmission infrastructure to accelerate and optimise the energy transition.

Subsea power cables - cables transmitting power as electrical current through the marine environment and forming electricity networks on a national and international scale.

Subsea telecommunication cables - predominantly fibre optic cables used to carry information across long distances in the form of telephone, internet, and data.

Support for biodiversity - the ability of ecosystems to provide habitats and ecological processes that sustain species and genetic diversity over time, as defined on the UK Biodiversity Indicators webpage.

Sustainability appraisal - an appraisal of the sustainability of proposals for inclusion in the marine plan, a report of the results of which is published under paragraph 10 of Schedule 6 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 alongside the consultation draft of the marine plan.  It incorporates the requirements of The Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 (commonly referred to as the ‘Strategic Environmental Assessment Regulations’) on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment, and ensures that potential environmental effects are given full consideration alongside social and economic issues.

Sustainable aquaculture - considers environmental, economic and social factors, recognising that sustainability will vary depending on species, location, farming methods and management techniques, among other factors (Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture). 

Sustainable development - development that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Sustainable economic growth - defined by the United Nations as economic growth that can be maintained over the long term without depleting natural resources or causing significant harm to the environment or society (The 17 Sustainable Development Goals). 

Sustainable fisheries - defined in the Fisheries Act 2020 sustainability objective:sustainability objective:

• fisheries that are (i) environmentally sustainable in the long term and (ii) managed so as to achieve economic, social and employment benefits and contribute to the availability of food supplies.
• the fishing capacity of fleets is such that fleets are economically viable but do not overexploit marine stocks.

Sustainable tourism - defined by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities”.  as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities”. 

T

Telecoms Access Zones - areas identified by The Crown Estate to preserve space for future telecoms cables in high congestion areas.

Theory of Change - maps out the pathway for how the plan will achieve its objectives, and how this will be monitored. As defined in Section 2.2 of The Magenta Book, the Theory of Change describes how and why change will be delivered through the marine plan, the assumptions and risks, and wider contextual factors which may impact the success of the plan.

Tourism - defined by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation as “a social, cultural or economic phenomenon which entails the movement of people to countries or places outside their usual environment for personal or business/professional purposes”. as “a social, cultural or economic phenomenon which entails the movement of people to countries or places outside their usual environment for personal or business/professional purposes”.

U

Under-keel clearance - the minimum clearance available between the deepest point on a vessel and the seabed in still water (see the Nautical and Offshore Renewables Liaison Group advice on under-keel clearance , Under Keel Clearance Policy Paper - guidance to developers in assessing minimum water depth over tidal devices).

Underwater noise - any sound present within the water column, regardless of whether it originates above or below the water’s surface.

Upstream sector - refers to all activities involved in locating, exploring, and producing crude oil and natural gas. It covers the early stages of the industry, including exploration, drilling and production.

V

Vision - a short statement of the overall aim for the marine plan areas (based on a 20-year time horizon). It also includes a description of what will characterise the plan areas in 20 years’ time. It should be noted that this is a vision for the marine plan areas, and there will be numerous other factors which contribute to its success.

Visual resource - views of the coast and sea from land. Views from the sea to land, and sea to sea.

W

Waste - any substance or object which the holder discards, intends to discard, or is required to discard.

Waste hierarchy - ranks waste management options in the order which is best for the environment: prevention, re-use, recycling, recovery, then disposal, as described in Guidance on applying the waste hierarchy - GOV.UK.

Water quality - a measure of the condition of water and its suitability to sustain a range of uses for both biotic and human benefits. The regulation of water quality  includes the ability of ecosystems to filter and store pollutants, sediments, and nutrients, helping maintain or improve water quality, as described in the Enabling a Natural Capital Approach (ENCA): Guidance report.

Workforce transition - the movement of workers from declining, high-carbon, sectors into new, sustainable roles, specifically within the net zero economy.

Wreck site - the location of any aircraft or vessel lying wrecked on or in the seabed or of any objects contained or formerly contained in it lying on or in the seabed near the wreck.