New licensing requirements for dredging
The latest ‘Fishing Focus’ can be read from www.gov.uk/government/publications/fishing-focus-issue-31-autumn-2013
Judged not on merits but on expediency
Those who work from ports and harbours requiring dredging are being encouraged to read new guidance produced by the MMO. This covers regulatory changes which may affect people carrying out dredging from April 2014.
Under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, the Government made licensing of navigational dredging a legal requirement. When the new marine licensing system came into effect in 2011 it allowed a transition period for operators to adapt to the change. The transition period comes to an end in April 2014 and from then dredging activity, other than very small scale maintenance dredging, is likely to require consent from the MMO. During the transition period the MMO has been working to streamline the future application process, including developing an accelerated decision-making process. The MMO plans to introduce this accelerated process in certain circumstances from November 2013.
Further information will be available in the licensing section of the MMO’s website from November 2013, when people can also start applying for these licences.
See: www.marinemanagement.org.uk/licensing or call 0300-123 1032.
