§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library copies of reports held in his Department of the effects on the marine ecology of offshore sand dredging.
§ Mr. CurryProgress reports on an investigation by the Ministry's directorate of fisheries research into the effects of aggregate dredging on the marine ecology are included in aquatic environment monitoring reports Nos. 26 and 30, copies of which are in the Library. Studies currently under way, funded in part by the Crown Estates Commissioners, are investigating the rates at which marine life re-colonises a dredged area. A copy of the report will be placed in the Library once this work is completed.
§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information his Department holds on the impact of offshore sand dredging on coastal erosion and deposition.
§ Mr. CurryApplications to dredge marine aggregates, including sand, are subject to a process known as the Government view procedure which is operated in England by the Department of the Environment. The process includes the commissioning of studies to ascertain the 577W effects that the proposed dredging would have on the coastline. Consultations take place with all interested Government Departments—including the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food—coast protection authorities and other interests. An application will not proceed unless there is a favourable Government view overall. The individual studies carried out are based on the best scientific and research information available, and should provide an adequate safeguard in relation to the potential impact of offshore dredging on coastal erosion and deposition.
§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the locations where his Department has been consulted in relation to offshore sand dredging in each of the last 10 years; for which sites he has given a positive response; for which sites he has given a negative response; and what estimates he has of the annual tonnage of sand that has been extracted from each working site.
§ Mr. CurryThe table shows the areas in respect of which applications were made to the Crown Estates for marine aggregate extraction licences in the period 1982–91, and the response finally given by this Department in each case. Some of these applications are still subject to consideration under the procedure. Information on quantities extracted each year are not made public by the Crown Estates for reasons of commercial confidentiality.
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Summary of Government views of marine aggregate licence applications 1982–91 Location of Application to Crown Estate MAFF View 1982 Mersey Favourable Conwy Favourable 1983 Southwold (Withdrawn) South Goodwins Favourable Hilbre Swash (Bristol Channel) Favourable East of Isle of Wight Favourable Off Great Yarmouth Favourable Bristol Channel Favourable 1984 South Goodwins Favourable 1985 North Goodwins Favourable Brighton Favourable The Knoll (Clacton) Unfavourable 1986 Owers Bank (Seaford) Favourable Off North Wales (Withdrawn) South Goodwins Favourable 1987 Great Yarmouth Favourable 1988 Southern North Sea Discussions continuing Nash Bank (Bristol Channel) Favourable Holme Sand (Bristol Channel) Favourable North Goodwins Favourable South East of Isle of Wight Discussions continuing 1989 North Goodwins Favourable Cross Sands (Lowestoft) Discussions continuing Long Sand (Thames Estuary Discussions continuing Barley Picle (Great Yarmouth) Discussions continuing Black Deep (Thames Estuary) Discussions continuing
Location of Application to Crown Estate MAFF View Southwold Discussions continuing 1990 Helwick Bank Favourable Southwold (Withdrawn) Shoreham Discussions continuing Off Selsey Discussions continuing North Goodwins (Withdrawn) Maplin Discussions continuing Outer Bristol Channel Discussions continuing East Nab (Isle of Wight) Discussions continuing 1991 Owers (Shoreham) Discussions continuing Off Southwold Discussions continuing East Nab (Isle of Wight) Discussions continuing Off Great Yarmouth Discussions continuing North Dowsing (Humber) Discussions continuing Baggy Point (Bristol Channel) Discussions continuing