Marine licensing: Sediment Analysis

Before you can complete a sediment analysis you must have a sediment sample plan in place. The plan must have approval from the MMO and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas). Find out more about sample plans.

The MMO must ensure that sediment sample analysis data submitted in support of marine licence applications is consistent, and in a format that lets us compare separate applications.  

You should follow the guidance below to ensure that we can process your marine licence application.  

We also use the Cefas action levels to decide how suitable it is to dispose of dredged sediments at sea.

Information for marine licence applicants 

You must make sure that your sediment sampling and analysis is undertaken by a MMO validated laboratory. If a laboratory chooses to sub-contract analysis of samples, the sub-contracted laboratories must also meet the same requirements.

Below are the laboratories validated by MMO for sediment analysis to inform marine licence applications and validated determinands. Determinands are the specific biological, chemical and physical properties of sediment.

You must use our results template to submit your sediment analysis data.

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Your sediment analysis results should be a single report. The report must also comply with the requirements set out in your Sediment Sample Plan.  

The laboratory who completed the sampling and analysis work for you must provide a chain of custody evidence in support of the analysis results. This is to prove that the samples have been handled and stored correctly by them.