The British Marine Aggregate Producers Association, the representative body for the marine aggregate sector, and The Crown Estate have jointly published a new good practice guidance for marine aggregate extraction operations in English waters.

Dredging of sand and gravel from the seabed is long established in England to secure material used as construction aggregate, for beach nourishment and for land reclamation. The supply of aggregate from marine sources is vital for maintaining supply, particularly to markets in London and the South East of England. Export of marine aggregate also makes a contribution to the UK’s balance of payments. Planning, environmental assessment, licensing, and monitoring of marine aggregate dredging has evolved significantly in recent years. Along with changes to the statutory licensing regime, and advances in the scientific understanding of the impacts of aggregate dredging operations, the marine aggregate industry has also implemented voluntary good practices to mitigate and manage the effects of its operations. This good practice guidance has been produced by the British Marine Aggregate Producers Association and The Crown Estate as a replacement for the original Marine Minerals Guidance 1: Extraction by dredging from the English seabed, originally published in July 2002 by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (now Department for Communities and Local Government) but subsequently withdrawn. Click here to download the guidance