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Information about the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme
The UKSIA manages UK domestic fishing vessel access to non-UK waters and foreign vessel access to UK waters.
Create and submit catch records for all English and Welsh under 10 metre (U10m) flag vessels that fish in UK waters.
Find out how to create a Defra account so you can notify the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) about an exempt activity.
Find out if your marine activity needs a licence, exemption or permission from another authority or organisation.
How to assess the impact of your activity in estuarine (transitional) and coastal waters for the Water Framework Directive (WFD). The guidance is called Clearing the Waters for All.
Details of how to apply for a marine licence, what documents you need to provide, how much it costs and how long it will take
Marine protected areas protect important habitats, species and ecosystems. Find out what marine protected areas and highly protected marine areas are, how the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) manages activities in them, …
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) will open a bluefin tuna (BFT) catch and release recreational fishery (CRRF) in English waters in 2026. The MMO will run the application process and will issue permits only for vessel…
Details on how to dispose of your unwanted distress flares.
Wreck and salvage laws, the role of the Receiver of the Wreck, wreck owners and salvors and how to report wreck material.
Rye Harbour high water times for each day (morning and afternoon).
Permission is required for a burial at sea in the UK marine area.
An overview of the UKHO Archive, accessing our archive and ordering copies of archive material.
Find guidance about marine non licensable activities, information for a named marine protected area, current opportunities to take part and published research and evidence.
How the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) assesses the effects of marine non licensable activities on marine protected areas within 12 nautical miles of the English coast and decides if management measures are needed
Find marine planning information for England, including data on marine licenses, environmental designations and policy information from regional marine plans.
During 2025 and into 2026, fishermen in South West England reported a surge in sightings and landings of common octopus (Octopus vulgaris), often referred to as an “octopus bloom”. This webpage provides updates on how the Ma…
Information to help you answer your query before you contact us.
Real time closure (RTC) zones are areas in English waters that have been identified through sampling by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to contain a large percentage of juvenile fish.
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