We use some essential cookies to make this website work.
We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.
We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.
You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.
You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.
Departments, agencies and public bodies
News stories, speeches, letters and notices
Detailed guidance, regulations and rules
Reports, analysis and official statistics
Consultations and strategy
Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports
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.
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
Create and submit catch records for all English and Welsh under 10 metre (U10m) flag vessels that fish in UK waters.
Details on how to dispose of your unwanted distress flares.
Rye Harbour high water times for each day (morning and afternoon).
An overview of the UKHO Archive, accessing our archive and ordering copies of archive material.
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…
Permission is required for a burial at sea in the UK marine area.
The Blue Book is a single collection of UK and EU laws.
Find marine planning information for England, including data on marine licenses, environmental designations and policy information from regional marine plans.
Find out how to create a Defra account so you can notify the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) about an exempt activity.
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, …
UKHO obtains ISO certification
The Blue Belt Programme supports the UK Overseas Territories with the protection and sustainable management of their marine environments.
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…
Setting out how regulatory bodies can co-ordinate the separate processes for coastal development consents in England.
Information about the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme funding rounds.
Do not include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.
To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. Please fill in this survey (opens in a new tab and requires JavaScript).