Guidance and regulation

Wreck and salvage laws, the role of the Receiver of the Wreck, wreck owners and salvors and how to report wreck material.

• From: Maritime and Coastguard Agency
• Updated: 30 January 2018

Find out about the different marine species and how they are protected UK wildlife legislation.

• From: Marine Management Organisation
• Updated: 13 June 2023

• Birds

  All species of wild birds are protected. Offences under The Conservation…

• Cetaceans – dolphins, porpoises and whales

  All species of dolphins, porpoises and whales. Cetaceans are also…

• Seals

  1. Seals The UK is home to two species of native seal – the grey seal…

• Marine turtles

  1. Species The offences and protections listed are for: loggerhead…

• Sharks, skates, and fish

  1. Sharks and Skates The offences and protections listed for these species…

• Invertebrates

  1. Species The offences and protections listed under the Wildlife and…

• Prohibited or unauthorised method to capture or kill

  Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 The…

• Seahorses

  The offences and protections listed for seahorses are under the Wildlife…

Why you need a marine wildlife licence if you are going to disturb a protected species, how to apply and how to report an incident.

• From: Marine Management Organisation
• Updated: 2 March 2021

How MMO byelaws are made and what they protect.

• From: Marine Management Organisation
• Updated: 17 January 2023

How to notify the Marine Management Organisation that you are carrying out a seismic or geophysical survey.

• From: Marine Management Organisation
• Updated: 5 January 2022

How to assess a planning application when there are freshwater or migratory fish on or near a proposed development site.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 25 October 2023

When you can bring seal, walrus and sea lion products into Great Britain. How recognised authorities can get approval to export seal products to Great Britain for trade.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 15 June 2022

Certain vessels must use an acoustic deterrent device, known as a 'pinger', to reduce the level of dolphin and porpoise (cetacean) by-catch.

• From: Marine Management Organisation
• Updated: 25 March 2022

Get conservation advice on the impact of activity on a marine site and find out the status of advice using the interactive map.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 10 October 2023

Get conservation advice on the impact of activity on a marine site and find out the status of advice using the interactive map.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 21 March 2024

How to assess a planning application when there are freshwater pearl mussels on or near a proposed development site.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 25 October 2023

Get conservation advice on the impact of activity on a marine site and find out the status of advice using the interactive map.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 21 March 2024

Use Natural England’s advice packages to find out if your activity, proposal or area has a potential impact on MPAs and the species and habitats within them.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 16 May 2016

Get conservation advice on the impact of activity on a marine site and find out the status of advice using the interactive map.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 10 October 2023

Get conservation advice on the impact of activity on a marine site and find out the status of advice using the interactive map.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 30 March 2021

Find the alternative feature, sub feature or supporting habitat name used in the marine site maps and the corresponding conservation advice package.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 16 May 2016

Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)

• From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and 1 others
• Updated: 26 June 2018

Map of European sites in England and the 500 metre buffer zone around these sites on 31 May 2021.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 12 May 2021

Draft fishing gear impacts evidence documents for stage 4 marine protected areas (MPAs). Stage 4 covers impacts of fishing on MPAs with highly mobile species features, including harbour porpoises and marine bird species.

• From: Marine Management Organisation
• Updated: 5 December 2023