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Marine Aggregate Dredging

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.

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 -