How MMO assesses and manages marine activities in marine protected areas
How the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) assesses potential impacts on marine protected areas within 12 nautical miles of the English coast and decides if management is needed
Activities MMO considers
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:
- non-motorised water craft such as kayaking, paddleboarding, kitesurfing, windsurfing
- sailing or powerboating (including launching and participation)
- snorkelling and diving
- wildlife watching from sea
- anchoring
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
For guidance about anchoring read Moorings: environmental impacts, consent and marine licensing - GOV.UK
Fishing is managed separately. Managing fishing in marine protected areas - 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:
- walking, including dog walking
- motorised and non motorised land craft
- beach recreation
- land based wildlife watching
- coasteering
- bait collection and seaweed foraging
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.
How effects are assessed
A site assessment looks at whether an activity could prevent or hinder a marine protected area from meeting its conservation objectives.
It considers the:
- protected features
- activities taking place and where they overlap with protected features
- best available evidence about their effects
Evidence and advice from Natural England is considered as part of the assessment. Evidence and views may also be gathered from people and organisations with relevant knowledge, including regional stakeholders where required.
Read Marine Protected Areas: conservation advice packages
How MMO decides what management is needed
If an assessment shows that an activity could prevent or hinder an MPA from meeting its conservation objectives, MMO considers whether management is needed and what action is proportionate.
Options can include information and education, managing access or activity areas, designated access points, signs, voluntary codes or agreements, engagement with clubs and local users, wardens, MMO byelaws and or permit conditions. The appropriate option depends on the protected feature, activity, evidence, existing responsibility and level of risk.
Read Understand MMO marine conservation byelaws - GOV.UK
Implementation, monitoring and review
When management measures are introduced, the people and organisations affected are told what applies. Relevant organisations and site users may also be involved in putting the measures into practice.
Activity, protected features and the effectiveness of management will be monitored. MMO can keep, change, replace or remove measures where the evidence supports this and the relevant legal process allows it.
Studland Bay shows how assessment, engagement, voluntary management and review can work at a site.Managing marine non-licensable activity in Studland Bay Marine Conservation Zone - GOV.UK