Alternative use of dredge material in the north east, north west, south east and south west marine plan areas (MMO1190)

A project has mapped the opportunities for the alterative use of dredge material in NE, NW, SE, SW Marine Plan areas.

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is currently developing the north east, north west, south east and south west marine plan areas around the English coast. As there is a need for more dredged material to be re-used rather than disposed of at sea, used “alternatively”, there is a requirement for a national dataset to be developed to identify sites of potential alternative use and to associate these with suitable future dredging campaigns. To meet this need, the MMO is developing a strategic overview of where dredging occurs and where this resource is needed to support alternative use of the extracted material. The MMO commissioned Royal HaskoningDHV to develop this dataset for the North East, North West, South East and South West Marine Plans and to undertake a review of the data.

This study developed a Geographic Information System (GIS) dataset and maps to describe existing and future opportunities for alternative use of dredge material in the north east, north west, south east and south west marine plan areas. This was completed using the MMO Public Register, a review of relevant literature and stakeholder consultation. The GIS database is split into four datasets; historic and existing dredging, historic and existing alternative use, future dredging and future alternative use. This report contains the tabulated data from the database as well as a series of maps depicting dredging and alternative use in each of the marine plan areas. These data were reviewed and a need for more strategic oversight has been identified to more efficiently coordinate the re-use of dredged material instead of disposal at sea. Although there are several constraints, such as material suitability, there are clear opportunities for much greater re-use in all the marine plan areas reviewed.

Click here to read access the report and background material