(1)Section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (c. 69) (power to grant licences) is amended as follows.
(2)After subsection (8) insert—
“(8A)In this section, in the case of a licence under any of subsections (1) to (4), so far as relating to the restricted English inshore region (see subsection (12)), “the appropriate authority” means the Marine Management Organisation.”.
(3)In subsection (9) (meaning of “the appropriate authority”) at the beginning insert “Except as provided by subsection (8A),”.
(4)At the end of the section insert—
“(12)In this section—
(a)“the restricted English inshore region” means so much of the English inshore region as lies to seaward of mean low water mark;
(b)“the English inshore region” has the meaning given by section 322 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.”.
(5)To the extent that an application for a licence under section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which was made, but not determined or withdrawn, before the coming into force of this section relates to the restricted English inshore region, the application is to be treated as an application made to the MMO after the coming into force of this section.