Marine licensing legislation
Marine and Fisheries Division carries out licensing and enforcement functions in Northern Ireland territorial waters, under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (MCAA) Part 4. They follow the principles of better regulation and aim to be transparent, accountable, proportionate, consistent and targeted in all actions.
In determining marine licence applications, Marine and Fisheries Division has regard to the following:
- the need to protect the environment
- the need to protect human health
- the need to prevent interference with legitimate uses of the sea
- the effects of any use intended to be made of the works when constructed
Current marine licensing legislation applies to the Northern Ireland inshore region and allows sensible and necessary development to go ahead in a manner that minimises adverse impacts on the environment, human health and users of the sea.
- Marine licensing - Northern Ireland legislation and the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009
- Explanatory memoranda
Licensable activities
The type of activities that could require a marine licence in Northern Ireland include:
Construction and removal
- mooring
- harbours
- marinas
- jetties
- piers
- sea outfalls
- scour protection
- rock armouring
- beach replenishment
- land reclamation
- removal of objects from the seabed
Dredging
Navigational and capital dredging of ports, harbours and marinas.
Sea disposal
Disposal of dredged material (maintenance dredging and capital dredging). The only materials that may be licensed for disposal from vessels are fish processing waste and dredged material that has been demonstrated to be free of contamination.
This list is not exhaustive so please contact the Marine Strategy and Licensing Branch before an application is submitted.
Protected areas
Where a proposal involves a plan, project or policy with potential to affect an area designated as a Natura 2000 site such as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) or Special Protection Area (SPA) - the appointed competent authority is legally obliged to carry out a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA), taking into account any advice given by DOE.
An HRA is a tool put in place to ensure that a project, plan or policy will not have an adverse effect on the integrity of any Natura 2000 site and must be carried out if there is any potential for the designated site to be affected. The outcome of the assessment is the responsibility of the competent authority. The European Court of Justice can impose fines of thousands of pounds a day on Northern Ireland under infraction procedures if any significant damage is shown to have occurred to Natura 2000 sites.
If you need advice on how to carry out this process, please contact Marine and Fisheries Division.
Where a proposed operation might affect an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI), the landowner or occupier must apply for consent or assent under the Environment Order. For coastal sites, these applications are dealt with jointly by Marine and Fisheries Division and NIEA.
Where a site is designated both as a Natura 2000 site and as an ASSI, both types of permission will be necessary. You may need to apply for planning permission for construction in coastal areas.
Applying for a licence
Before filling in the appropriate application form, please read the supporting guidance information below.
Fees
Marine Licensing fees have been updated. The new fees are applicable from the 1 April 2019.
Forms
- Application for a licence for marine construction works/land reclamation/beach replenishment in the territorial sea and controlled waters adjacent to Northern Ireland
- Application for a licence for deposit of solid waste (e.g. dredged material) in the territorial sea and controlled waters adjacent to Northern Ireland
- Application to deposit tracer dyes and other materials in the territorial sea and UK controlled waters adjacent to Northern Ireland
- Application to dredge in the territorial sea and UK controlled waters adjacent to Northern Ireland
Guidance
Your application will be evaluated through a statutory consultation process with a number of consultees whom the Department considers relevant, and also a public consultation process through which members of the public may request information or provide comments.
Tacit consent does not apply. It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted.
Depending on the complexity of your application, it will be processed within four months from receipt of a completed application which includes all relevant information and associated material and correct fee.
A register of licensing information is available for inspection at all reasonable times by members of the public free of charge. This register is available to view by contacting Marine and Fisheries Division.
Appeals procedure
When an application has been refused or granted subject to conditions (under section 71 of the Act), or a notice has been issued by the licensing authority to vary, suspend or revoke a marine licence (under section 72 of the Act), or an enforcement notice been issued; the applicant, may by notice, appeal to the Water Appeals Commission.
Offshore wind and marine renewable energy in Northern Ireland
In 2009, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment published the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of offshore Wind and Marine Renewable Energy in Northern Ireland. This SEA aimed to assess the effect of the development of offshore wind and marine renewable energy technology on Northern Ireland’s coastal and marine environment. Regional guidance was then developed to provide direction to key stakeholders on the development of offshore renewable energy projects within Northern Ireland territorial waters (out to 12 nautical miles).
In October 2012 several areas of Northern Ireland territorial waters were awarded Exclusivity Agreements to assess the potential for the development of offshore and marine renewable projects.
DAERA Marine Strategy and Licensing team is committed to assessing the development of any offshore renewable energy projects, within Northern Ireland’s marine environment, in a transparent and balanced manner. It will also provide applicants with sufficient guidance and advice throughout the lifetime of the project and ensure that the application process is as streamlined and efficient as possible.
In addition to this, DAERA Marine Strategy and Licensing team will assist in facilitating engagement between all relevant parties and statutory authorities in relation to specific requirements. Furthermore, applicants will receive full support in the development of any project application and the development of any mandatory information required by the DAERA Marine Licensing authority, such as Environmental Impact Assessments.
For further information, please contact the Marine Strategy and Licensing Branch.