John Sauven, Executive Director at Greenpeace UK holds a banner with a Greenpeace volunteer (l) reading ‘Get Ocean Protection Done’, outside Newcastle Crown Court.

The UK government’s Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is pursuing a private prosecution against Greenpeace over its action to protect part of the Offshore Brighton Marine Protected Area (MPA) from bottom trawling in February 2021. Today (2nd December 2021), at Newcastle Crown Court, the judge will hear legal arguments on whether the MMO has jurisdiction over Greenpeace’s action.