How MMO assesses and manages marine activities in marine protected areas

MMO considers marine non licensable activities (mNLA) where they may affect protected features in marine protected areas within 12 nautical miles of the English coast. mNLA can include:

For current guidance on avoiding disturbance to seahorses and damage to seagrass while diving or snorkelling read  [LINK Diving or snorkelling around seagrass and seahorses]

For guidance on seagrass protection and recovery read Seagrass protection and recovery - GOV.UK

Activities managed by other organisations

The foreshore is a complex area and is host to a wide variety of activities. To reflect this, there are a diverse range of authorities who each have a specific duty to help manage these activities. MMO aims to avoid overlapping or unnecessary regulation, therefore the following activities are out of scope for MMO management:

How sites are prioritised for assessment

Earlier MMO research identified 32 marine protected areas (MPAs) where marine non licensable activities could put protected features at risk.

MMO has since considered more recent evidence and worked with Natural England to review potential impacts across all 168 inshore MPAs. A risk based assessment identified 98 MPAs that may be vulnerable to impacts from marine non licensable activities and need further screening.

The assessment used Natural England advice, available information about the condition of protected features, specialist input and information about relevant activities at each MPA.

MMO uses the results of screening to prioritise sites for further work. Where screening indicates that marine non licensable activities may be affecting protected features, MMO will carry out a more detailed site assessment.

Where appropriate, MMO groups MPAs together to support a consistent, proportionate and ecosystem-based approach to assessment and management.