Key mapping role for ABPmer

The UK Government is committed, through OSPAR and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, to setting up a network of MPAs that will contribute to the protection of marine ecosystems and biodiversity. Draft guidance (Defra, 2008) accompanying the draft Marine Bill provides for decision makers to have regard to the economic and social consequences of designating particular areas. The selection of sites will be undertaken at a regional level with the establishment of a number of Regional MPA Projects led by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and Natural England.

ABPmer has also recently been awarded a contract to review the impacts on marine sediment by offshore wind projects. The main aims of the Collaborative Offshore Wind Research Into the Environment (COWRIE) funded project are to review and update available sediment monitoring evidence from existing offshore wind farms and disseminate lessons learnt.

Working with CEFAS and HR Wallingford, ABPmer will lead the work to collate and review monitoring evidence from both UK and European projects. The work will include technical reviews of suspended sediments, scour and morphology, helping to identify best practice for monitoring techniques, with a focus on future developments.

In another recent development, ABPmer was awarded a contract by the Environment Agency in the UK that will help determine the future of Farlington Marshes, which is on the northern shore of Langstone Harbour, east of Portsmouth.

Farlington Marshes extend into the harbour south of the A27 route and comprise defended freshwater land of internationally recognised high environmental value. A 3,250m revetment sea defence, the condition of which has required increasing maintenance to reduce its deterioration in recent years and for which a long term solution is now sought, protects the site. ABPmer, in association with consultants WS Atkins, will undertake option appraisals that consider both the physical and habitat responses to optimise management of the marshes that provide maximum environmental benefit, whilst offering a sustainable coastal defence to protect property at risk of coastal flooding.

The baseline information and development of the preferred option for Farlington Marshes will be undertaken in consultation with key stakeholders including Natural England, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Portsmouth City Council, Hampshire County Council, Langstone Harbour Board and other directly affected parties.