The Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022

Insertion of Article 24A

13.  After Article 24 (removal of obstruction or danger to navigation) insert–

“Use of vehicles or vessels to remove marine litter and debris

24A.— (1) Article 4 applies to a removal activity using a vehicle or vessel carried on by or on behalf of a Harbour Authority for the purpose of removing marine litter and debris from the area within its jurisdiction.

(2) But Article 4 does not apply to any such removal activity–

(a) that is likely to cause damage to features of archaeological or historic interest in the area where the activities in question occur; or

(b) that–

(i) falls within paragraph (3); and

(ii) is not directly connected with or necessary for the management of a site or zone (as the case may be) referred to in that paragraph.

(3) An activity falls within this paragraph if–

(a) it is a plan or project likely (either alone or in combination with other plans or projects) to have significant effect on a European site;

(b) it is likely to have a significant effect on a Ramsar site; or

(c) it is capable of affecting (other than insignificantly)–

(i) the protected features of an MCZ;

(ii) any ecological or geomorphological process on which the conservation of any protected feature of an MCZ is (wholly or in part) dependent.”.