Ian Selby, Hanson Aggregates Marine's operations director said, 'As part of our drive towards sustainable development we have returned these areas and, particularly with the Thames site, it is in recognition of its national environmental significance. We will be concentrating on fewer license applications which will result in a reduction of the sea space we currently occupy.'

The license in the Thames Estuary is off the mudflats at Maplin Sands, covering an area of 8.24km 2and is known to be particularly important for eel grass and wading birds.

The other license off the Isle of Wight lies within an area of several existing marine aggregate production licenses. It surrender ensures that 5km 2of seabed remains fully available for fishing and other offshore activities.

Ian Reach, marine operations advisor to English Nature, the Government agency which champions conservation, said, 'We are pleased to see Hanson returning these licenses which will further ensure the conservation of the habitats, particularly on Maplin Sands.

We encourage other marine aggregate companies and seabed developers to take this responsible attitude towards their resource development plans.'

The Crown Estate will not make the areas available for exploration for 10 years from the date of early surrender as part of the Marine Aggregate Management Plan incorporated in The Crown Estate and Marine Aggregate Licensees' Memorandum of Understanding dated November 2004.

Meanwhile in Brussels, the European Union commissioner for the environment Stavros Dimas has said that harmful human activities such as dredging should be banned in ecologically sensitive areas. He wants to introduce maritime spatial planning, whereby coastal regions are categorised by the activities permitted there. The new ecosystem based management would be implemented on a regional basis, taking into account the specific characteristics of European waters.

He spoke with regard to the recently launched Green Paper on European Maritime Policy, which proposes the setting up of a European marine observation and data network, which could lead to comprehensive mapping of European coastal waters.

MJInformation No: 22129