#2026/676UK Marine Licensing Amendments for Activities Beyond National Jurisdiction
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
This Order expands UK marine licensing rules to cover certain activities carried out in areas beyond national jurisdiction, mainly the high seas and seabed areas outside any country’s control. It supports the UK’s duties under the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, especially around environmental impact assessments. Businesses using British vessels, aircraft, marine structures, or UK-controlled operations at sea may need to check whether deposits or other marine activities outside national waters now require a marine licence. Offshore submarine cable laying and maintenance are carved out where the Order says the exemption applies.
AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.
Key Changes
- Extends UK marine licensing to certain activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
- Adds new licensing coverage for deposits made from or controlled by British vessels, aircraft, or marine structures outside national waters.
- Links the new activities to the UK’s environmental impact assessment duties under the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement.
Obligations
What this law requires
Obtain a marine licence before carrying out newly covered licensable marine activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction, including relevant deposits or activities at sea added to section 66(1) of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 by this Order.
Do not treat offshore submarine cable laying or maintenance as a newly designated BBNJ environmental impact assessment activity where the activity falls within the Order’s exemption for an offshore stretch of exempt submarine cable.
Before depositing substances or objects at sea in an area beyond national jurisdiction, determine whether the activity is now licensable under the amended Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 and secure the required marine licence if applicable.