What this covers
Why you need it
Parliament created it. The power to require it comes from Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.
What the Act carries
What our graph holds for Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 as a whole — the Act behind this licence, not the licence conditions themselves.
- Duties on businesses
- 34
- Penalties
- 21
- Exemptions
- 37
Duties on businesses under the Act
- Challenge marine policy statements or plans in court s.62
- Obtain a marine licence before starting regulated activities s.65
- Provide false or misleading information for a licence s.89
- Fail to comply with compliance or remediation notice s.92
- Fail to comply with a stop notice s.103
- Fail to comply with an emergency safety notice s.105
… and 28 more business duties in the same Act.
What happens if you get it wrong
- Breach of marine licence requirements or conditions 2 years imprisonment
- Obtain a marine licence before carrying out licensable marine activities 2 years imprisonment
- Fail to comply with a stop notice 2 years imprisonment
- Fail to comply with compliance or remediation notice 2 years imprisonment
- Fish in a restricted area or exceed a catch limit Unlimited fine
… and 16 more penalties in the same Act.
Exemptions that may take you outside it
- Activities in Marine Conservation Zones with a valid MMO permit — Holding a valid permit issued by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO)
- Appeals against enforcement orders must go to specific tribunals — Appealing an enforcement order under section 93 or 95 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (except orders made …
- Consent required to restrict long-standing private fishing or coastal rights — The person holding a right of several fishery or a right over the seashore must consent to the restriction, unless …
- Defence if you took all reasonable precautions — You must prove you took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid committing the offence. Alternatively, you …
- Development and nature recovery projects exempt from MCZ duties — Exercise of functions under or by virtue of Part 3 of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 (development and nature …
… and 32 more exemptions in the same Act.
Read our full dossier on Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009
Who issues it
Your local council issues this. Councils apply the same statute but set their own fees, conditions and timescales.
Where to apply
Duty, penalty and exemption labels are Guvnor’s analysis of the enabling instrument, not the instrument itself. Fees, forms and conditions are set by the issuing authority — always check the linked source.