§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will outline the procedure that will be employed, under the recently announced review of licence applications for mineral dredging offshore to ensure that such activities are not damaging to the fish stocks, sea bird populations and marine mammals; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChopeThe revised procedures for determining licence applications for minerals dredging issued earlier this year make provision for an environmental assessment (EA) to be undertaken into the application where the Crown Estate Commissioners judge this to be necessary.
Among the criteria used to assess the need for an EA are the potential impact of the dredging area on a marine nature reserve; the inclusion in the dredging areas of an important fish (including shell fish) spawning area or nursery ground; or whether the dredging area is within an area which supports a known important commercial fishery. A copy of the revised procedures is available in the Library.
These new procedures reflect the important role which marine sand and gravel play in maintaining supplies to the construction industry whilst recognising the need to safeguard sea fisheries and the marine environment.