Regulation under the Government View / Permission Procedure

Government control of marine aggregate dredging has historically been exercised through the government view / permission procedure, currently administered by the Marine and Fisheries Agency (MFA). It is anticipated that the Environmental Impact Assessment and Habitats (Extraction of Minerals by Marine Dredging) Regulations have come into force. These new statutory regulations apply to England and Northern Ireland. Scotland and Wales will introduce their own regulations to govern extraction of marine minerals.

Applications for the extraction of marine minerals are currently operating under the interim government view / permission procedures pending introduction of the statutory procedures. Both the interim and proposed statutory procedures are to be administered by MFA in England, DoE(NI) in Northern Ireland, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Scottish Executive, as appropriate. Each application will involve the undertaking of an environmental impact assessment and extensive consultation with the fishing industry, relevant government bodies and the general public. Both the interim and statutory procedures have provision to hold a public inquiry if necessary.

Further Information

For further information please contact:

Marine and Fisheries Agency
3-8 Whitehall Place
London
SW1A 2HH

telephone 020 7270 8328
fax 020 7270 8345

Planning Division
Welsh Assembly Government
Welsh Office
Crown Buildings
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF1 3NQ

telephone 029 2082 3725
fax 029 2082 5622

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
Dundonald House
Upper Newtownards Road
Belfast
Northern Ireland
BT4 3SB

telephone 028 9052 0100
fax 028 9052 5546