Abstract
Key Customer Purpose Defra licence the disposal of material at sea and in the intertidal environment. If the waste material from one site can be used to enhance another area then this should be encouraged. This project will assist Defra in assessing the potential benefits that can accrue from using dredged material for coastal protection and habitat conservation and will enable the UK to support international and regional conventions that involve dredged material disposal and biodiversity issues (e.g. OSPAR RAMSAR, Rio and the Biodiversity Convention). Summary Objectives To develop the understanding of the long term biological response within and on top of sediments using filed methods and controlled laboratory experiments. To develop indicators of sediment stability after disposal to show beneficial use of material and development of new or enhanced ecosystems. Build on previous studies of the disposal of mud (AE0260) and widen both the sediment type and the habitat management potential. The suite of models that can be used to predict the fate of muddy dredged material, placed near-shore for beneficial purposes need to be calibrated and tested.
United Kingdom