MarineSpace

MarineSpace has had an abstract accepted for an oral presentation at the 4th EMSAGG Conference, to be held  in Ostende in June 2012.

The presentation is authored by Dafydd Lloyd Jones, Stuart Lowe, Ian Reach and Rob Langman and is entitled 'Regional Environmental Assessments – Modelling the Cumulative Effects of Dredging in Four Regions of the UK'.

A short abstract for the presentation is provided below:

Where multiple dredging operations for sand and gravel occur within a spatially limited area there is the potential for cumulative impacts on the hydrodynamics, both at a local and regional scale.  These changes may affect a range of sensitive receptors.  In the United Kingdom, approximately 20 million tonnes per year of marine aggregate is extracted from licence areas which typically occur in regional blocks off the South Coast, the Thames, East Anglia and the Humber.

Licences in these regions are due to expire in the next few years and, to aid the relicensing process, a regional environmental assessment (REA) for each of these regions has been commissioned by the UK aggregate industry.  The REAs assess the cumulative impacts of dredging, using the outputs of regional-scale numerical models which predict the effects of aggregate extraction on hydrodynamics, and their interaction with a range of sensitive receptors. 

Three bathymetric conditions were used as model inputs - pre-dredging; present day; and future – in which predicted bed levels are defined by combining present-day bed levels and future extraction plans through to approximately the year 2030. Models were also run with increased wave heights and periods to examine potential consequences of global warming.

The REA establishes the context of the region in terms of its physical, biological, human (heritage and socio-economic) value and future extraction activities and delivers a range of regional datasets which will aid the progression of site-specific licence renewals and applications. These datasets provide detail on the effects and impacts of multiple dredging operations in the region as well as the interaction with other users of the marine environment. 

An extended abstract and the presentation slides will be available later in the year. For further information please contact MarineSpace at info@marinespace.co.uk