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Marine Aggregate Dredging

MARINET takes Dredging threat to Parliament — MARINET has enlisted the aid of Norman Lamb, MP for North Norfolk in drawing the attention of DEFRA and the government in general to the now rapidly advancing and escalating threats facing East Anglia due to the many combined aggravating government policies on dredging and its licensing, and the lack of any that could help prevent the degradation.

USA Video on coastal erosion and dredging — A 14 minute video from the USA on dredging and the resultant coastal erosion, showing the both causes of it and the methodology capable of correcting the loss of shoreline, can be seen by going to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYMEh8kkRKs&feature=player_embedded
If those of you who have your houses, businesses or beaches threatened by dredging and the Shoreline Management Plan are able to get some of your Councillors to see this (e.g. those who are either abandoning the coastline they are supposed to be responsible for, or for aiding, abetting and allowing expensive short-term fixes) it could go a long way to asserting sanity of practice and restoration.

MARINET's video on The Impact of Offshore Aggregate Dredging — MARINET's 24 minute video presentation on Marine Aggregate Dredging providing a balanced view from all stakeholders, can be seen by clicking below. Although some of content is now several years old, the points of view remain topical. It is presented in three parts which may be played sequentially or individually.

Fathoming 'Sand Waves' Peter Waller of Felixstowe has been studying papers on Sand Waves and their mobility, and following much reading has come up with an interesting analysis.

We provide here the MARINET response to CSIRO (Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) — which was asked by the Australian Government to consult with UK and US organisations on the impact of marine aggregate dredging in these two countries, and thus to advise on lessons applicable to Australia should a similar decision be made in that country to dredge for marine aggregate. We also provide a copy of the Report that CSIRO produced for the Australian Government, and the response of Pat Gowen, on behalf of MARINET, to CSIRO concerning their report.
This has led to further correspondence with CSIRO:
From CSIRO 17th May 2011
To CSIRO 17th May 2011
To CSIRO 27th May 2011
and the provision by CSIRO of a further Synthesis Report.

MARINET’s Comments on UK Licence Applications — A record of the comments submitted by MARINET to the UK government and the aggregate companies in connection with aggregate dredging licence applications.

Eumarsand — A European approach to Marine Aggregate Dredging — 'Eumarsand', the European Sand and Gravel Resources site could prove to be a step toward responsible sanity as it directly states the environmental harm brought about by offshore aggregate mining.

Tracking the Dredgers — Ever wondered where all of those ships, dredgers, tankers, good and bad, are in the sea? Now you can find out.

House of Commons Crown Estate Inquiry, input from MARINET — This is the MARINET submission, dated 11th March 2010, to the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee considering "the Management of the Crown Estate". Our submission provides evidence on how the Crown Estate and the UK Government have managed, and often mismanaged, the seabed, its ecosystem and the related coastline in order to exploit the seabed, which is owned by the Crown Estate, for sand and gravel.

Marine & Fisheries Agency (MFA) British Marine Aggregate Producers Association (BMAPA) Support — The MFA website content seen under 'Marine Environment' leaves us with little doubt of its full support of the dredging industry. The exploitation of the environment obviously takes full priority over and above concern for our sea, seabed and coastal environment in their eyes.

Response to Outer Thames (OT) Potential Special Protection Area (pSPA) Consultation — A well worded response to the Outer Thames pSPA consultation by Fisherman Chris Wightman acting on behalf of the Anglian Fishermen's Association.

European Justice and Dredging — Although the emphasis is on port dredging, the following European Court of Justice ruling on the application of The European Habitats Directive could have a decisive bearing on aggregate dredging and its impact of our offshore and coastal areas.

Correspondence with Anne McIntosh — MARINET wrote to Anne McIntosh, who has been Shadow Minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs since 8th September 2009, to express our concern of the ongoing impasse regarding continuing Offshore Aggregate Dredging. She in turn wrote to Huw Irranca Davies who is the existing Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in DEFRA.
The Ministers reply to her consisted of the usual output as regards dredging as seen earlier on our website, so a follow-up was sent to Anne McIntosh to cover our response to the content, some quotes and points of which our members might find useful when dealing with the matter.

MARINET presents evidence that offshore dredging will cause beach erosion — MARINET has assembled a critique, based on a reading of the literature and scientific studies from around the world, of the assertion made by the aggregate companies that offshore dredging for sand and gravel does not cause beach and coastal erosion. This MARINET report explains the process by which this erosion occurs, and presents the evidence behind this reasoning.

Seabed Recovery following Dredging — You will recall that the spokesman for BMAPA originally denied any damaging impact to the sea bed as a result of dredging. Following our provision of evidence disproving this claim in our objections to licence applications, this was later amended by a claim that full recovery resulted within a year of the termination of dredging operations. Now read on…

Letter from America — Dredging and Erosion — Comparisons of Mis-management — Jerry Berne of Sustainable Coastlines wrote this philosophical treatise comparing the dredging and erosion situation (mal)practised in the USA and in the UK.

Review of UK Marine Aggregate Extraction Activities — From The Crown Estate and BMAPA showing historic patterns of marine aggregate extraction in metric tonnes for 2000-2005, excluding beach replenishment and fill contracts.

Aggregate Dredging and The Crown Estate — facts and figures — The Crown Estate published a report on 7th November revealing the levels of aggregate dredged from the seabed and the revenue resulting from this.

Dredging, Defence, the Dutch and UK Dithering — Lessons learned from a fact finding mission to The Netherlands comparing the Dutch restrictions on offshore aggregate dredging and protection from coastal erosion to those of Britain.

Crown Estate Socio-Economic Report on Marine Aggregate Dredging — On 6th November 2008 the Crown Estate published a new report on the levels of marine dredging, the staffing of the industry and the financial contribution derived and resulting from the activity.

Eurosion Paper on Essex Estuarial Erosion — Distinct from the 29th October 2005 EUROSION Report (at www.marinet.org.uk/mad/scientificstudies.html#eep) which the powers that be attempted to delete that content showing the North Norfolk Coast erosion being due to Offshore Aggregate Dredging, another EUROSION report has recently been unearthed by Maike of Coastal Essex FoE g.petri@telinco.co.uk
This relates to the serious ongoing estuarial coastal loss of Essex, and (among other contributors) shows that offshore dredging is implicated in the loss of sediment supply, hence the erosion. See paper here.

East Coast dredging sites — Latest maps showing dredging sites off the east coast. Published by the Crown Estate and correct as at 31st Jan '08.

Hallsands — hype and facts — When BBC first broadcast the superb 'Coast' programme, which did much to portray the value and wonders of our coastline, they included the story of Hallsands, that delightful Devon Village destroyed in 1917 by dredging. But subsequently ...

The second 'Sandpit' report — A report from a large group of independent European scientists concerned with the impact of Offshore Aggregate Dredging — The Sandpit report for Year 2 is the second research based report carried out by WL/Delft Hydraulics. Its overall objective is to attempt to develop reliable prediction techniques for offshore aggregate dredging and to give guidelines to simulate, better understand, predict and mitigate the damaging effects of the process.

Shifting Sands — The Royal Geographical Society has reported on the practice and impact of marine aggregate dredging in the March 2008 edition of its magazine, Geographical. The report is titled "Shifting Sands", and MARINET has contributed to this report. The article is introduced in the magazine by the following text: "Mining the seabed for sand and gravel for use in construction is a major industry in the UK. But while the official line from the government and the mining industry is that damage is inconsequential, environmental groups are voicing concerns about the impact on sea defences, fish stocks and fragile coastal habitats."
The article is reproduced here as a pdf file www.marinet.org.uk/mad/shiftingsands.pdf, and is Copyright of the Royal Geographical Society.

Why are our Beaches eroding? — Coastal Zone '07 paper 'Coastal Zone 07' was held at Portland, Oregon, from July 22nd to July 26th 2007 to discuss a wide range of coastal concerns. 920 delegates representing 16 countries attended. One session was devoted to the topic 'Why are our beaches eroding?' As this is very pertinent to our campaign, with the permission of Professor Vincent May, we have reproduced it in full.

Aggregate dredging may be threatening Sizewell nuclear power station — Is there evidence that the offshore sandbanks — the Dunwich and Sizewell sandbanks — are being diminished by offshore aggregate dredging? If so, does this change threaten the stability of Sizewell beach and the long-term physical integrity of the nuclear power station at Sizewell, Suffolk? These are the questions which are examined in this paper by Peter Lanyon, Vice-Chairman of the Shut Down Sizewell Campaign. For further details, see: www.marinet.org.uk/mad/sizewell.pdf

Severn Estuary Aggregate Working Group — Aggregate dredging companies are seeking new licences to extract sand from the Severn Estuary in the area known as the Welsh Grounds.

MARINET Briefing Paper — An in-detail guide (25 pages with illustrations) as to the nature and impact of dredging the seabed offshore from our coasts for sand and gravel for use by the construction industry.

MARINET Briefing Paper — An abbreviated guide (4 pages) which explains the main issues.

Marine Minerals Dredging Regulations — This page provides access to the Government's Marine Minerals Guidance Notes 1 and 2 which govern the determination and granting of aggregate extraction licences. This page also records the public consultation on government proposals to place these licensing procedures on a statutory basis, along with MARINET's comments on this issue.

Dredging Statistics for 2005 — Details of the amounts of marine aggregate dredged offshore during 2005.

Scientific studies from around the world — Information from around the world about marine aggregate dredging, featuring its background, history and impact.

Press comments from around the world — Information from the world press.

Coastal Erosion and Archaeological remains — The erosion of beaches and coasts, often due to aggregate dredging, can lead to the unearthing of significant archaeological remains, with examples from the UK.

The Disappearing East Anglian Coast — The history, geology and meteorological events which have shaped the East Anglian coast and the likely impact of global warming.

Meeting the Dredgers — An account of a public meeting in 2005 in Norfolk between the aggregate companies and opponents of aggregate dredging, with details of the evidence presented to that meeting.

North Sea Surges — The Major Flood Risk to East Anglia

Beach and Dune Erosion