Marine non licensable activities

MMO is seeking evidence from people and organisations who use, study or have knowledge of marine protected areas (MPAs) within 12 nautical miles of the English coast. MPAs are areas established to protect habitats, species and processes essential for healthy, functioning marine ecosystems.

We are particularly interested in evidence about recreational activities and anchoring, and their potential impacts on protected habitats and species.

MMO has prepared five Impacts Evidence documents summarising the impacts of marine recreational activity and anchoring on marine protected habitats and species. The Impacts Evidence documents focus on:

• benthic sediments and associated species
• birds
• grey seals, harbour seals and Eurasian otters
• reef
• seagrass beds, maerl beds, seahorses and stalked jellyfish.

Alongside these Impacts Evidence documents sits the mNLA Impacts Evidence supporting documents:

• Marine Non-Licensable Activities Impacts Evidence: Methodology. This document describes the stepwise, evidence-led approach used to approach this mNLA project.

• Marine Non-Licensable Activities Impacts Evidence: Summary. This document summarises the key findings of the Marine Non-Licensable Activities Impact Evidence feature documents.

The call for evidence is requesting further information on the impact of marine recreational activities and anchoring on these protected habitats and species.

The marine activities in scope include, but are not limited to:

• anchoring
• diving and snorkelling
• hovercraft
• motorboats
• motorised personal watercrafts (such as “Jetskis”)
• paddle sports (such as kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding)
• sail boats 
• wildlife watching at sea
• wind sports (such as windsurfing, kitesurfing, wingsurfing, kite foiling).

The evidence will inform MMOs assessment of marine non-licensable activities in MPAs.

Respond to the call for evidence