This Order specifies activities which are not to need a marine licence, or not to need a marine licence if conditions specified in the Order are satisfied. It applies to the Scottish marine area (within the meaning of section 1 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010) which is basically the UK territorial sea adjacent to Scotland. The Scottish Ministers are responsible for granting marine licences in that area (as well as in Scottish offshore waters – governed by the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009).

Part 1 (articles 1 and 2) contains introductory provisions.

Part 2 (articles 3 and 4) contains provisions setting out when a marine licence is not needed for a licensable marine activity, and provisions relating to waste (which implement in part Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste (O.J. No. L 312, 22.11.2008, p.3)).

Part 3 (articles 5 to 35) contains provisions setting out the licensable marine activities which do not need a marine licence (including any conditions that must be satisfied as part of that exemption).