§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make a statement on the dumping at sea off the Essex coast of material dredged from Harwich harbour; [38943]
(2) what assessment he has made of the effects of the dumping at sea of material from the dredging of Harwich harbour on (a) the marine environment, (b) coastal fisheries and (c) lobster fisheries off the coast of Essex. [38944]
§ Mr. MorleyA site known as Rough Towers, some 15 kilometres south-east of Harwich, has been used for disposal of dredgings from a number of ports including Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich for many years.
Monitoring at this disposal site has been, and will continue to be, carried out by the Ministry's scientists at the Centre for the Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science as well as by Harwich Haven Authority. Inevitably, disposal of large quantities of dredgings has had a localised effect at the site itself but there is also some evidence that fine sediments from the disposal of maintenance material have dispersed from the site. Fishermen have expressed concern that the deposit of fine sediment has altered adjacent crustacea fishing grounds.
Harwich Haven Authority has applied for licences under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 to dispose of dredged material arising from the deepening of the approach channel serving the Ports of Felixstowe and Harwich. A detailed assessment is currently being made of the applications and of the accompanying Environmental Statement, paying particular regard to the potential impact upon the marine environment and crustacea fisheries. Harwich Haven Authority, in consultation with the Ministry, are investigating a possible new disposal site further offshore to accommodate silty maintenance dredgings.
The Ministry requires particular emphasis to be given to the search for alternatives to sea disposal for dredged material. In conjunction with the Environment Agency, English Nature and local authorities, several areas have been identified where the material may be used beneficially to enhance marine and inter-tidal habitats and for coastal defence works, thus minimising the quantity to be disposed of to sea.
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