Image: Brighton Marina by Being Momentx
The MMO has been heavily criticised for renewing a licence for the Brighton marina to dispose of sediment, in Beachy Head West Marine Conservation Zone.
While the marina needs to be dredged to allow vessels to access the marina, there are fears that the sediment is smothering marine life such as blue mussel beds, native oysters and short-snouted seahorses.
MP leads opposition against MMO decision
Chris Ward MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven was furious with the decision, saying that it “flies in the face of the local community’s views” and “directly undermines the MMO’s own remit to protect and enhance our precious marine environment.”
The Sussex Wildlife Trust have been campaigning against a licence renewal writing a letter to the MMO, in which they expressed their concerns. Reacting to the decision to approve the licence, a spokesperson from the Trust said:
“We believe this activity is fundamentally incompatible with protecting such an important protected site.”
“The water quality of our sea is already in dire need of improvement because of pollution with sewage, chemicals and sediment, and pouring sludge directly into a supposedly protected site makes a mockery of the government’s targets to improve the marine environment.”
“We will be reviewing options for further action once we have considered all the detail. This is a dark day for our efforts to restore our coastal special places.”
Licence granted “by the book” — but MP pushes for parliamentary scrutiny
The MMO say they reviewed the proposed project thoroughly, consulting the public, experts, and stakeholders. The MMO found the project aligns with the South Marine Plan and say they addressed all concerns through specific licence conditions. On 16th May 2025, the MMO decided to grant the marine licence with conditions. The licence and Decision Report are available on the public register.
Premier Marinas also stood by their adherence to proper process, explaining that:
“A consultation period is undertaken as part of each licence application to provide interested parties an opportunity to comment. Marine licences are only then granted by the MMO following a detailed assessment of the facts and their independent process confirming that works are compliant with current legislation.”
However, this situation is far from resolved. Mr Ward has called for “immediate transparency” and vowed to take the issue to Parliament.
Image: Westminster Palace by AXP Photography