'Aggregates’ is the collective term for sand, gravel and
crushed rock. They are essential raw materials for the construction
industry and are also widely used in beach replenishment schemes.
The majority of the demand is met by aggregates extracted from
land-based sources. In the last 40 years the aggregate dredging
industry has been increasingly reliant on marine sources to satisfy
the UK’s increasing demand. Today approximately 21% of the sand and
gravel demand of England and Wales is met by the marine aggregate
industry.
The main areas for marine aggregate
extraction around the UK are off the south and east coast of
England. Substantial deposits of sand and gravel exist for example
on the seabed of the eastern English Channel, the outer Thames
Estuary and the South coast region.
Role of JNCC in Provision of Nature
Conservation Advice to the Marine Aggregate Industries
JNCC work closely with the British Marine Aggregate Producers
Association (BMAPA) and individual dredging companies to
ensure their awareness and understanding of our advice regarding
nature conservation issues. Regular contact on casework and policy
issues within JNCC and the Country Agencies ensures that common
standards are applied wherever this is possible and practical.
Licence procedure
In order to carry out commercial extraction activities dredging
companies must obtain both a licence from The Crown Estate and a
permission from the regulator. Marine aggregate extraction beyond
territorial waters is currently regulated by the Marine and Fisheries Agency (MFA)
section within Department of the Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs (Defra).The Crown Estate owns the
mineral rights to the seabed, extending to the limits of the UK
continental shelf (UKCS). They issue licences for the commercial
extraction of aggregates and for non-exclusive sampling. Following
a successful tender, applicants for a dredging licence undertake an
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as part of the legislative
procedure. The MFA with advice from statutory consultees including
JNCC review the EIA in order to determine whether a licence should
be granted.
Regional Environmental Assessments
In order to ensure regional sustainability of aggregate
extraction and improving the evidence base for individual licence
applications the marine aggregate industry has made a voluntary
commitment to undertake Regional Environmental Assessments (REAs)
for a number of strategic areas of extraction. The first REA was
commissioned by the East Channel Association (ECA) for the East
Channel Region (ECR) and published in 2003 presenting a
regional assessment of
potential impacts of dredging in the ECR. Following the
completion of the REA,
a regional
environmental monitoring programme was developed by the ECA to
test the predictions of the REA. REAs have also been commissioned
for the outer Thames Estuary, the South Coast region around the
Isle of Wight, the Humber region and the East Coast region
off Great Yarmouth.
JNCC and Natural England are involved in the
REA process for all strategic regions. JNCC and Natural England are
members of the Regulatory Advisors Group, which has developed
principles, guidance and methodologies for the REAs from nature
conservation and marine and historic environment perspectives.
For further information on marine aggregates,
including applicable legislation, and the Aggregate Levy
Sustainability Fund refer to Aggregates - Key
Information.