The latest Regional Environmental Monitoring and Management (REMM) reports concerning marine aggregate extraction activities in the East Channel Region have recently been completed. The reports describe monitoring surveys undertaken in the ECR and also the findings of studies undertaken using collated wide -region environmental data. The reports can be downloaded from the East Channel Association website by clicking here.

MarineSpace, on behalf of the East Channel Association, has produced an update describing monitoring activities in the East Channel Region. The update provides the latest information regarding progress, in 2007, of biological monitoring (benthic communities, habitats, fish, shellfish), physical monitoring (seabed sediment deposition and transport) and other issues such as archaeological reporting, herring spawning sensitivity assessment and plans for monitoring in 2008. The update can be downloaded from the ECA website here.

MarineSpace would like to take this opportunity to wish our clients a Merry Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

MarineSpace, on behalf of the companies of the East Channel Association (ECA), provided a presentation of information related to the monitoring and management of dredging operations in the East Channel Region (ECR). The annual East Channel Environmental Network meeting was held on the 17th July. A wide range of stakeholders were invited to attend and provide comment on the activities of the ECA. Although attendance was limited, those that were involved were broadly supportive of the approach of the ECA. Comments received at the meeting, mostly related to the type of data generated and the wider use and dissemination of results, will now be incorporated into future activities in the region. For further information regarding the ECA and their activities visit www.eastchannel.info or email rdm@marinespace.co.uk

It has recently been announced that the Marine Environment Protection Fund (MEPF), a component of the Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF), has been allocated a further £2.5M in support of research for the FY2007/8.

It is proposed that a significant proportion of the fund will be spent undertaking data acquisition programmes capable of producing information suitable for environmental characterisation of two regions associated with marine aggregate extraction - the Thames Estuary and the South Coast.

The ALSF-MEPF website (www.alsf-mepf.org.uk) explains that; 'These projects are expected to complement the industry-led REA process by providing a broader regional environmental context against which sub-regional significance can be robustly considered, and will involve the collection and interpretation of data to describe the seabed features, habitats, and species and features, including items of heritage interest, that exist at a regional scale centred on current marine aggregate licensed interests.'

MarineSpace assisted the MEPF Steering Group by producing the draft project specification document and survey plans suitable for issue to prospective survey contractors. MarineSpace liaised with a number of organisations during development of the proposals to ensure that the survey plans were realistic in scale and capable of producing high quality, fit-for-purpose, data. Visit the ALSF-MEPF website for more details and to view the regional survey specification documents.

MarineSpace has recently completed an assessment of the sustainability of a major marine aggregate extraction application in the Outer Bristol Channel. The work, undertaken for the Resource Management Association (RMA), reviews relevant national and regional development and mineral planning policy and investigates possible alternatives to the resources being applied for by the RMA. The assessment goes on to discuss the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the proposals and is designed to form an intergral part of the application, along with the environmental impact assessment and dredging management plans.

MarineSpace has played a central role in drawing together a large, multi-faceted environmental monitoring and management programme. The work, undertaken on behalf of an association of marine aggregate extraction companies, is required as part of licence conditions for operations in the East Channel Region.

Collaboration of a number of consultants and technical specialists has been necessary in completing the works, and MarineSpace has ensured that the diverse strands of the programme have been successfully drawn together.

More information regarding the project and access to the outputs can be gained by visiting www.eastchannel.info

MarineSpace has recently completed action plan documents on behalf of Hanson Aggregates Marine Ltd that describe the biodiversity and geodiversity features of two of the their licence areas on the south coast of England.

The action plans identify how Hanson's operations might influence features of interest and also how routine compliance monitoring undertaken by the developer might be used to improve understanding of the significance and sensitivity of features identified. Contact us for further information regarding this and other aspects of MarineSpace operations.