Marinet tells MMO “to evaluate the truth of evidence” in aggregate dredging licence application

Following advice received on 2nd August 2013 from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) that the MMO had commenced its evaluation of the licence application by Hanson Aggregates Marine Ltd in respect of Areas 212, 240 and 328B and C off Great Yarmouth, Marinet has replied on the same date to tell the MMO how important Marinet considers a proper evaluation of the application to be.

Marinet explains that it has a long experience in making submissions to the various agencies who have determined marine aggregate licence applications over the years and, in its experience, there appears to be two classes of evidence. One class (“first class”) which is given credibility and preference by the licensing agency. And another class (“second class”) which is politely acknowledged but essentially discounted.

In the first category (“first class”) is all the evidence submitted by the aggregate companies, their paid “scientific” consultants and which is “peer-reviewed” by government agencies. This evidence is regarded by the licensing authority as unimpeachable and when the evidence asserts some “fact” or opinion that “fact” or opinion is considered to be undeniably correct. In the second category (“second class”) is all the evidence which is submitted by the public and non-commercial (non-aggregate) interests, and this evidence is treated as essentially “non-scientific”, of dubious quality, and therefore of little legitimacy.

“Let me say,” explains Stephen Eades on behalf of Marinet “that I seriously hope that the Marine Management Organisation is not going to allow its duties and performance to fall foul of this profoundly unsound methodology of assessment. You will, without doubt and for proper professional reasons, robustly assert that this will not be allowed to be so. We will be greatly assured to receive this statement, but let us be clear that we will be looking for evidence of the truth of this statement when the MMO makes its decision. We judge matters on the evidence.”

Marinet has also made clear that they have doubts about the accuracy of evidence contained in the Marine Aggregate Regional Environmental Assessment (MAREA) for the East Anglian Area undertaken by the marine aggregate companies in 2011.

Marinet has questioned the rigour of the science underlying the MAREA offshore wave model and its associated wave regime, and has asked the MMO to ensure that the MMO’s own experts examine this matter in close detail.

The MMO has acknowledged its receipt of Marinet’s concerns in a reply dated 8th August 2013.

Note: For the full detail of Marinet’s communication dated 2nd August 2013 to the MMO, please view here , and for the MMO’s acknowledgement of 8th August 2013, please view here .


Please do share this

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS