UK Act of Parliament 2009 United Kingdom

Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009

View on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab) Ask Guv about this Act

At a glance

What's here

62 compliance obligations, 11 practical guides across 2 topics · 4 journeys · 47 statutory instruments

Penalty landscape

11 of 62 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 10 carry different penalties and 41 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Who this Act binds

Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.

  • Any Person 22
  • Landlord 2
  • Director or Officer 2

Plus 36 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.

Step-by-step journeys using this legislation

Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.

Relevant guidance

Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.

Supporting — topic alignment

8 guides

Mentioned in related content

3 guides

Other Acts binding the same actors

For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.

Any Person also bound by 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Landlords also bound by 70 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Directors and Officers also bound by 224 other Acts (top 5 shown)

What this Act requires

Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.

Part 1 — The Marine Management Organisation

s.037

Directions by the Secretary of State

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must publicise directions given to the MMO Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 38 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 2 — Exclusive economic zone,

Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 3 — Marine planning

s.048

Withdrawal of, or from, statement

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Government authorities must notify others and the public when withdrawing a statement Crown / Minister / Government department
s.053

Withdrawal of marine plan

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Marine plan authority must notify the public if a marine plan is withdrawn Statutory regulator
Browse 13 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 4 — Marine licensing

s.065

Requirement for licence

2 years imprisonment
  • Obtain a marine licence before starting regulated activities Any Person
s.069

Determination of applications

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Licensing authority must determine marine licence applications Statutory regulator
s.071

Licences

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Licensing authorities must decide on marine licence applications and conditions Statutory regulator
s.089

Information

Unlimited fine
  • Provide false or misleading information for a licence Any Person
s.101

Register

Amended 1 time
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Licensing authorities must maintain a public register of marine licences Local authority
s.107

Deposits on account of fees payable to the Welsh Ministers

Amended 1 time
s.107

Supplementary provision about fees payable to the Welsh Ministers

Amended 1 time
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Welsh Ministers must set marine licensing fees based on cost recovery Crown / Minister / Government department
s.110

Fees: oil and gas activities for which marine licence needed

Amended 1 time
Browse 34 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.067

Advice and other assistance from the Welsh Ministers

s.072

Further fees chargeable where the Welsh Ministers are the appropriate licensing authority

s.073

Proceedings for questioning certain decisions under sections 70 and 71

s.073

Applications under section 73A: requirement for permission

s.079

Special procedure for applications relating to certain electricity works (Northern Ireland)

Part 5 — Nature conservation

s.124

Report

Amended 4 times
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Government must report on Marine Conservation Zone progress and restrictions Crown / Minister / Government department
s.129

Byelaws relating to exploitation of sea fisheries resources: England

Amended 2 times
s.129

Byelaws relating to exploitation of sea fisheries resources: English offshore region

Amended 2 times
s.129

Byelaws under sections 129A and 129B: supplementary

Amended 2 times
s.134

Orders relating to exploitation of sea fisheries resources: Wales

Amended 1 time
s.134

Orders relating to exploitation of sea fisheries resources: Welsh offshore region

Amended 1 time
s.134

Orders under sections 134A and 134B: supplementary

Amended 1 time
s.137

Orders relating to exploitation of sea fisheries resources: Scottish offshore region

Amended 3 times
s.137

Consultation etc regarding orders under section 137A

Amended 3 times
s.137

Interim orders made by Scottish Ministers

Amended 3 times
s.137

Further provision as to orders made under section 137A or 137C

Amended 3 times
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Scottish Ministers must provide copies of marine conservation orders Crown / Minister / Government department
s.137

Orders relating to exploitation of sea fisheries resources: Northern Ireland offshore region

Amended 3 times
s.137

Consultation etc regarding orders under section 137E

Amended 3 times
s.137

Interim orders made by the Department

Amended 3 times
s.137

Further provision as to orders made under section 137E or 137G

Amended 3 times
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Government department must distribute and publish marine conservation orders Crown / Minister / Government department

Part 6 — Management of inshore fisheries

s.174

Duty of co-operation

Amended 1 time
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • IFC authorities must co-operate with neighboring districts and marine regulators Local authority
s.176

Accounts

Amended 2 times
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • IFC authorities must maintain proper financial accounts and records Local authority
s.177

Annual plan

Amended 1 time
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • IFC authorities must publish and submit an annual plan Local authority
s.183

Report by Secretary of State

Amended 1 time
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must report on Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 4 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 7 — Fisheries

Part 8 — Enforcement

s.243

Infrastructure planning: enforcement in the Welsh inshore region

Amended 1 time
s.295

Application to the Crown

Amended 1 time
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Government and Crown employees must comply with coastal access laws Crown / Minister / Government department

Part 9 — Coastal access

Browse 14 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 10 — Miscellaneous

Part 11 — Supplementary provisions

Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Schedules

s.sch006

Marine plans: preparation and adoption

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Marine plan authority must involve the public and coordinate with other bodies Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 19 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Read the full Act on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)

Official guidance

Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.

Enforcement and responsible bodies

The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.

Environment Agency

Primary

Environmental protection in England. Regulates waste, emissions, water quality, flood risk, and environmental permits for industrial activities. Enforces environmental law and issues …

The Crown Estate

Manages Crown land and seabed around England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Grants leases for offshore wind farms, tidal, and wave energy projects. …

MMO

Marine Management Organisation

Licenses marine activities in English waters, including construction, dredging, and deposits at sea. Issues marine licences for offshore renewable energy projects below …

Natural England

Government adviser for the natural environment in England. Responsible for wildlife licensing (protected species), designating and managing protected sites (SSSIs, National Nature …

NRW

Natural Resources Wales

Principal environmental regulator for Wales. Combines functions of Environment Agency Wales, Countryside Council for Wales, and Forestry Commission Wales. Issues environmental permits, …

Connected legislation

47 statutory instruments

These instruments amend, apply, or refer to this Act. They may not all create direct business obligations.

Secondary legislation (47)

+ 32 more statutory instruments

Explore more

Browse legislation

Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.

Regulators

Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.