tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/search/news-and-communicationsNews and communications2026-05-11T13:12:04+01:00HM Governmenttag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/mmo-and-ports-sector-launch-new-marine-licensing-top-tips2026-05-11T13:12:04+01:00MMO and ports sector launch new Marine Licensing Top TipsNew guidance and tools to support the marine licensing process. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/ukho-appoints-mark-barclay-as-non-executive-chair2026-05-01T10:00:04+01:00UKHO appoints Mark Barclay as Non-Executive ChairThe UKHO announces the appointment of Mark Barclay as its new Non-Executive Chair, bringing extensive defence and aerospace expertise to the role. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/crawfish-consultation-20262026-04-30T16:38:06+01:00Crawfish consultation 2026Fishers with an interest in the crawfish fishery in English waters of ICES area 7 are being urged to respond to a new online survey on proposals for a seasonal closure in 2026/2027.tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/mmo-and-nifca-joint-enforcement-operation-results-in-successful-prosecution2026-04-17T14:16:00+01:00MMO and NIFCA joint enforcement operation results in successful prosecutionThe owner and a master of a UK-registered fishing vessel have both been sentenced following a joint enforcement operation and subsequent inspections carried out at the Port of Blyth in 2024 and 2025.tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/development-consent-granted-for-outer-dowsing-offshore-wind-farm2026-04-15T11:02:55+01:00Development Consent Granted for Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind FarmDevelopment consent approved by Secretary of State. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/uk-scientists-unite-for-seabed-survey-off-the-south-west-coast2026-04-15T09:01:52+01:00UK scientists unite for seabed survey off the south‑west coastA four‑week seabed mapping survey will bring together scientists from 11 organisations to improve understanding of the marine environment.tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/132-million-uk-government-investment-open-to-the-fishing-and-seafood-industries-and-coastal-communities-across-england2026-04-13T12:15:00+01:00£132 million UK Government investment open to the fishing and seafood industries and coastal communities across EnglandFishermen, seafood businesses, and coastal communities can now apply for funding through the relaunched Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS), funded from the over £132 million committed to the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund …tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/temporary-queen-scallops-closure2026-03-31T11:14:00+01:00Temporary queen scallops closureQueen scallop fishing in ICES sub areas 6a and 7a will be closed from 1 April to 30 June 2026 to protect spawning stocks.tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/marine-licencing-supporting-research-energy-infrastructure-new-maritime-facility-and-seabed-protection2026-03-26T10:59:00+00:00Marine licensing supporting research, energy infrastructure, new maritime facility and seabed protectionRecent marine licensing decisions are supporting acoustic research, unexploded ordnance investigations ahead of Sizewell C construction, a new quay wall for a maritime innovation centre, and a pioneering nature-inclusive sea…tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/bluefin-tuna-fisheries-20262026-03-24T10:01:38+00:00Bluefin tuna fisheries 2026Skippers and masters who succeed in this year’s application process for a bluefin tuna (BFT) catch and release permit for English waters will now have to undertake mandatory trainingtag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/king-scallop-dredge-fishery-temporary-closure-decision2026-03-23T14:26:00+00:00King scallop dredge fishery temporary closure decisionMarine Management Organisation (MMO) has today 23 March 2026 announced its decision on a temporary closure to dredge fishing for king scallops in ICES areas 7d and 7e in 2026.tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/joint-mmo-ukmpg-initiative-to-set-new-standard-for-marine-licensing2026-03-18T13:46:00+00:00Joint MMO–UKMPG initiative to set new standard for marine licensingA major collaborative effort to test, modernise and improve the marine licensing system is gathering momentum.tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/south-west-water-pleads-guilty-to-six-years-of-pollutions2026-03-13T15:38:22+00:00South West Water pleads guilty to six years of pollutionsThe water firm admits 18 charges of water pollution in Devon and Cornwall and sentencing is expected on 4 June 2026.tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/protecting-the-wash-and-north-norfolks-marine-environment2026-03-11T14:14:00+00:00Protecting The Wash and North Norfolk's marine environmentThe Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is inviting local people, coastal communities and all those who enjoy spending time in or on the water in The Wash and North Norfolk area to join their upcoming workshops. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/marine-management-organisation-appoints-new-chief-executive-officer--22026-03-04T11:30:01+00:00Marine Management Organisation appoints new Chief Executive OfficerMarine Management Organisation (MMO) Board has appointed Elysia McCaffrey as its next Chief Executive Officer. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/mmo-secures-a-second-successful-mpa-byelaw-prosecution2026-01-30T14:49:00+00:00MMO secures a second successful MPA byelaw prosecutionThe Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has secured a second successful prosecution for a contravention of an MMO Marine Protected Area (MPA) byelaw.tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/marine-licencing-supporting-coastal-restoration-defence-infrastructure-and-offshore-wind2026-01-30T11:42:00+00:00Marine licensing supporting coastal restoration, defence infrastructure and offshore windRecent marine licensing decisions are supporting kelp restoration in the northeast, MOD facility maintenance at Weymouth Bay, marina refurbishment in Essex, habitat creation at Thorney Island, and Norfolk offshore wind devel…tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/uk-leads-global-efforts-to-help-communities-save-the-ocean-and-beat-poverty2026-01-26T00:01:00+00:00UK leads global efforts to help communities save the ocean and beat povertyNew funding to protect the ocean and support communities most affected by climate changetag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/i-vms-urgent-update2026-01-22T17:12:43+00:00I-VMS UpdateMarine Management Organisation (MMO) is aware that Succorfish is no longer transmitting I-VMS data to the UK VMS Hub. This is preventing MMO and other regulators from receiving positional data from under-12m vessels using Su…tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/additional-rules-when-fishing-in-eu-waters-from-10-january-20262026-01-08T00:00:00+00:00Additional rules when fishing in EU waters from 10 January 2026New rules imposed by the EU come into force on 10 January 2026 that will impact UK industry when fishing in the waters of EU Member States.