Remove litter from the sea or coast using a vehicle or vessel
You need a licence to remove litter from the sea or coast using a vehicle or vessel, provided the work:
- lasts less than twelve months
- costs less than £1 million
- happens in the area we licence
It includes litter collected by hand then stored on the beach for removal by a vehicle or vessel.
The marine area we license
We licence activities:
- in the Welsh sea - such as a marker buoy or a pontoon
- over the Welsh sea - something above or over-hanging the sea such as a bridge or cantilever
- under the Welsh sea - the ground under the sea and anything resting on it such as a wreck
The 'Welsh sea' reaches from average high tide (called 'mean high water springs') to the Welsh territorial limit.
Local authority work
You do not need a licence to remove litter or seaweed from a beach using a vehicle [OR VESSEL?] provided the work is being carried out by or for a local authority. This is called an exemption.
This exemption does not apply if the activity is likely to have a significant effect [DEFINE THIS?] on a marine protected area.
What we charge
This type of licence is called a band 1 licence. Applying for it costs £600. We will send you a request to pay when we receive your application.
When to apply
Submit your band 1 application at least two months before you want to begin the work.
We will make a decision within 6 weeks of receiving a complete application and the fee.
How to apply
Find out what information you need to prepare to submit an application to us.
Other permissions you might need from us
As well as applying for a band 1 marine licence, you might need other permissions from us, including:
These must be in place before you begin the work.