Ministers have approved plans allowing the MMO to charge for work carried out on marine licence cases once consent has been given. The charges, which came into effect from 1 October, relate to requests to change a marine licence once it has been granted (licence variations), and also to monitor activities being carried out under the licence (post consent work). From 1 October licence holders will be charged a fee if they require any of these services, even if the licence was issued before these powers came into force. The move seeks to recover costs from industry incurred by the MMO when carrying out the work. It is estimated it will save the Government, and the taxpayer, around £5m over 10 years. Click here for more information