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Aggregates dredging assessments pave way for wind
The UK Marine Aggregate Dredging Industry, seeking to introduce best practice into the management of the marine environment, introduced in 2003 the Marine Aggregates Regional Environmental Assessments (MAREA) as a tool to evaluate marine aggregate extraction in coastal and offshore waters and its impact on environmental and other maritime activities.
EMU Limited has developed significant expertise in this area following their commissioning by The South Coast Dredging Association (SCDA) to undertake production of the South Coast MAREA in December 2007, which is now in the course of completion.
The South Coast study area extended from Swanage to Shoreham and seawards just beyond the 12 mile limit, incorporating the waters of the Isle of Wight. Essentially the region comprises three main aggregate areas, the West Isle of Wight, East of the Isle of Wight and the Owers area.
The MAREA had 2 stages, the first being a scoping stage to identify existing issues and data gaps. This involved an extensive stakeholder consultation with feedback being captured via a dedicated website and public involvement in related workshops. The second stage addressed issues previously raised and undertook assessment of the impact of aggregate extraction on the physical, biological, socio-economic and historical environments within the area.
Resulting from the South Coast MAREA, Emu Limited has developed a methodology to address cumulative impact assessments at a regional level. This approach is considered pioneering for such assessments, and would also be relevant to management of offshore renewable energy sources.
During 2009, Emu Limited was awarded a contract to undertake the Scoping Stage of the Anglian Offshore Dredging Association’s (AODA) MAREA and has now been commissioned to undertake its full production.
The Anglian study area encompasses Cromer in the north and Orford Ness in the south of the region and extends 30 nautical miles offshore. Due to the sensitivities of the Anglian coastline AODA consider the MAREA to be a pivotal tool in achieving sustainable management of the marine aggregate dredging activity in the region and in meeting the concerns of both the regulators and stakeholders.
A Commercial and Recreational Fisheries Assessment has been undertaken involving one to one consultation with local fisherman and fishing industry organisations along the Anglian coast. In addition, workshops have been held in 2009 involving coastal practitioners from the local coastal authorities plus representatives from the Environment Agency and Natural England to discuss the physical processes and elements of the MAREA study. Plans for additional stakeholder consultation are being developed.
Emu project director Dr. Bruce Tomlinson said, ‘The award for the full production of AODA’s MAREA is very significant and a strategically important project. This aggregate industry lead initiative will allow for more robust decision making and is now being adopted by other offshore developers such as the wind industry. As a result of the award of these projects, Emu is now well placed to advise developers in the marine environment.’
