On the horizon
Marine Net Gain is coming.
While the industry focuses on terrestrial BNG, the regulatory direction of travel is clear — coastal and offshore developments will increasingly need to demonstrate marine net gain. Humber Natural Capital is watching this space closely and positioned to move as the framework develops.
Talk to Us About MNGWhat is Marine Net Gain?
Marine Net Gain (MNG) is the marine and coastal equivalent of Biodiversity Net Gain. It requires that developments affecting marine and intertidal environments leave those environments in a measurably better state than before the development took place.
As the marine regulatory environment continues to develop — driven by the Environment Act 2021, the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act, and growing pressure on coastal and offshore infrastructure — MNG obligations are moving from aspiration to requirement.
Coastal developments, port expansions, offshore energy installations, and flood defence projects will all need to demonstrate marine net gain. The systems to measure, evidence, and verify those outcomes don't yet exist at scale. That's what we're building.
Why this starts in the Humber Region
The Humber Estuary is one of England's most ecologically significant — and most pressured — marine and coastal environments. Sitting at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Trent, it drains approximately 20% of England's surface water.
Hull sits 90% below the high tide line. The Holderness coast is Europe's fastest eroding shoreline. The region is home to major port infrastructure, offshore wind development, and nationally significant habitats including the Humber Estuary SSSI and Ramsar site.
This isn't abstract geography. It's why Humber Natural Capital was built here, and why MNG isn't an afterthought — it's foundational.
"Built between two rivers and the North Sea, on Europe's fastest eroding coastline, we understand marine environments aren't an afterthought. They're the next frontier."
Why HNC is well placed
The HNC compliance platform is built to manage long-term environmental obligations — the same infrastructure that handles terrestrial BNG obligations is designed with marine environments in mind.
Our geographic base in the Humber Region — between two rivers and the North Sea, on Europe's fastest eroding coastline — means we are closer to the practical realities of marine and coastal environmental management than most.
As the MNG regulatory framework develops, we intend to be ready. If you are working in this space and want to talk through what's coming, we'd welcome the conversation.
Who will need Marine Net Gain?
- — Offshore wind and tidal energy developers
- — Port and harbour expansion projects
- — Coastal flood defence and managed realignment schemes
- — Marine aggregate extraction and dredging operations
- — Coastal and estuarine infrastructure projects
- — Intertidal and marine habitat restoration funders
Watching this space — together.
If you work in coastal or offshore development, or are tracking MNG as a regulatory horizon, we'd like to hear from you. The framework is still forming — the right time to be in conversation is now.
Talk to Us About MNG