FAQ & Submit a Complaint

MARA regulates activities in the maritime area from the high water mark to the outer limits
of Ireland’s EEZ and continental shelf. Coastal Planning Authorities enforce planning-related
issues within 3 nm of the shore.

The foreshore of Ireland is classed as the land and seabed between the high water of ordinary or medium tides (shown HWM on Ordnance Survey maps) and the twelve- mile limit (12 nautical miles equals approximately 22.24 kilometres). Foreshore also covers tidal areas of rivers, particularly estuaries.

• Assessing and granting Maritime Area Consents (MACs).
• Assessing and issuing Marine Usage Licences (MULs).
• Léasanna agus ceadúnais urthrá arna n-eisiúint faoin Acht Imeall Trá 1933 a bhainistiú agus a fhorghníomhú.
• Ensuring compliance with conditions of planning permissions granted in the maritime area by An Bord Pleanála.
• Investigating breaches of authorisations and undertaking enforcement actions.
• Facilitating collaboration and cooperation between maritime regulators.

• Check if the alleged activity is under MARA’s remit or that of another authority.
• Check if the alleged activity already has an authorisation; a MAC or MUL or Foreshore Lease or Licence.

• Ceadanna Limistéir Mhuirí (MACS) .
• Ceadúnais Úsáide Muirí (MULanna) .
• Léasanna Imeall Trágha no Ceadúnais no toilithe fén Acht Imeall Trágha, 1933 .
• Conditions of planning granted by An Bord Pleanála in the maritime area.

Visit MARA’s website and see existing authorisations.

When you make a complaint to MARA, you will be asked to give your name and contact details.

Note that:

• Your information may be needed so that you can be contacted for further information about the issued you have raised, and address it appropriately.
• Should you wish to remain anonymous, please state this on the Complaints Form that you are completing.
• If you are an employee or associated with the entity or individual you are raising the issue about, please state this on the Complaints Form.
• Your name and contact details are “personal data” and will be treated as such under the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

After you have checked it is in MARA’s remit, complete the online Complaints Form and send it to compliance@mara.gov.ie. Where possible include evidence of the alleged activity.

• MARA acknowledges complaints within working 5 working days.
• MARA assesses if the complaint falls within its remit and will contact you if more information is required.
• Where the complaint is not within MARA’s remit, it is redirected to the relevant authority and MARA will inform you of the referral

For Example:

• Planning enforcement above the high water mark (Local Authority)
• Aquaculture licensing (DAFM)
• Pollution incidents (Local Authority)
• Oil Spills (Coastguard)
• Dumping at sea (EPA)

MARA refers such complaints to relevant authority and will inform you of the referral.