Marine Management Organisation

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO), established in 2010 as an executive non-departmental public body under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 and sponsored by DEFRA, regulates and enables sustainable growth in English marine waters. Its core mission is to deliver clean, healthy, productive, and biologically diverse oceans through evidence-based regulation, marine planning, stakeholder engagement, and enforcement. Guided by five strategic outcomes—sustainable marine businesses, environmental protection, thriving coastal communities, trusted decision-making, and operational excellence—the MMO balances economic development with ecological stewardship, absorbing roles from the former Marine and Fisheries Agency while wielding unique powers in licensing, fisheries management, and conservation.

It funds projects via structured schemes like the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS), supporting sustainable fisheries innovation, vessel modernisation, harbour upgrades, marine conservation, habitat restoration, low-impact technologies, and coastal community resilience. Beneficiaries include charities, fishing organisations, SMEs, ports, and community groups advancing responsible marine resource use, biodiversity protection, and anti-pollution efforts, with indirect benefits to marine-dependent businesses and ecosystems. Funding prioritises alignment with national marine plans and statutory duties, excluding misaligned or high-impact activities.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities, community groups, and similar entities without income thresholds, but projects must target England's marine and coastal areas; no geographic base restriction applies. Typical grants range from under £10,000 to over £150,000 (with panel review for larger sums), covering project costs, capital, and capacity building—no core or unrestricted funding. Applications occur via online portals during open rounds only (unsolicited not accepted); the 2025 FaSS closed 25 July 2025, with no current round and activities ending by 31 March 2026.

Distinctively, the MMO blends regulation with facilitative funding, rejecting proposals threatening protections or lacking evidence, positioning it as England's pivotal partner for marine-aligned charities seeking compliant, impactful investments.