Can the benefits of physical seabed restoration justify the costs? An assessment of a disused aggregate extraction site off the Thames Estuary, UK

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Volumn 75, Issue 1-2, 2013, Pages 33-45

  Cooper, Keith ^a   Burdon, Daryl ^b   Atkins, Jonathan P ^b   Weiss, Laura ^a   Somerfield, Paul ^c   Elliott, Michael ^b   Turner, Kerry ^a,d   Ware, Suzanne ^a   Vivian, Chris ^a  

^a CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT   (United Kingdom)

^b UNIVERSITY OF HULL   (United Kingdom)

^c PLYMOUTH MARINE LABORATORY   (United Kingdom)

^d UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

Aggregate dredging; Ecosystem goods benefits; Ecosystem services; Impacts; North Sea; Restoration

Indexed keywords

AGGREGATE EXTRACTIONS; COSTS AND BENEFITS; ECOSYSTEM SERVICES; IMPACTS; INDUSTRIAL SCALE; MARINE AGGREGATE DREDGING; NORTH SEA; SITE-SPECIFIC;

COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS; COSTS; ECOSYSTEMS; IMAGE RECONSTRUCTION; RESTORATION;

AGGREGATES;

AGGREGATE; COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS; DREDGING; ECOSYSTEM SERVICE; ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING; ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION; MARINE ENVIRONMENT; RESTORATION ECOLOGY; SEAFLOOR;

ARTICLE; COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS; DREDGING; ECOSYSTEM; ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION; ECOSYSTEM SERVICE; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT; ESTUARY; GEOGRAPHIC AND GEOLOGICAL PHENOMENA; MARINE ENVIRONMENT; NONHUMAN; SEA BED; SEA POLLUTION; UNITED KINGDOM; WASTE WATER MANAGEMENT;

ENGLAND; THAMES ESTUARY; UNITED KINGDOM;

EID: 84884813806     PISSN: 0025326X     EISSN: 18793363     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.08.009     Document Type: Article

References (69)

1. ABPmer Ltd., 2009. Development of Spatial Information Layers for Commercial Fishing and Shellfishing in UK Waters to Support Strategic Siting of Offshore Windfarms. Commissioned by COWRIE Ltd. (project reference FISHVALUE-07-08).
2. Atkins J.P., Burdon D., Elliott M., Gregory A.J. Management of the marine environment: integrating ecosystem services and societal benefits with the DPSIR framework in a systems approach. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 2011, 62:215-226.
3. Atkins J.P., Gregory A.J., Burdon D., Elliott M. Managing the marine environment: is the DPSIR framework holistic enough?. Syst. Res. Behav. Sci. 2011, 28:497-508.
4. Austen, M.C., Hattam, C., Lowe, S., Mangi, S.C., Richardson, K., 2009. Quantifying and Valuing the Impacts of Marine Aggregate Extraction on Ecosystem Goods and Services. Marine Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (MALSF). MEPF 08-P77.
5. Beaumont N.J., Austen M.C., Atkins J.P., Burdon D., Degraer S., Dentinho T.P., Derous S., Holm P., Horton T., Van Ierland E., Marboe A.H., Starkey D.J., Townsend M., Zarzycki T. Identification, definition and quantification of goods and services provided by marine biodiversity: implications for the ecosystem approach. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 2007, 54(3):253-265.
6. Bellew S., Drabble R.C. Marine aggregate site restoration & enhancement: a strategic feasibility and policy review 2004, A report prepared by Emu Ltd., commissioned by BMAPA and The Crown Estate.
7. Borja Á., Dauer D.M., Elliott M., Simenstad C.A. Medium- and long-term recovery of estuarine and coastal ecosystems: patterns, rates and restoration effectiveness. Estuaries Coasts 2010, 33:1249-1260.
8. Boyd S.E., Limpenny D., Rees H.L., Cooper K.M., Campbell S. Preliminary observations of the effects of dredging intensity on the re-colonisation of dredged sediments off the southeast coast of England (Area 222). Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci. 2003, 57:209-223.
9. Boyd, S.E., Cooper, K.M., Limpenny, D.S., Kilbride, R., Rees, H.L., Dearnaley, J., Stevenson, J., Meadows, W.J., Morris, C.D., 2004. Assessment of the Re-habilitation of the Seabed following Marine Aggregate Dredging. Sci. Ser. Tech. Rep., Cefas Lowestoft, vol. 121, 154pp.
10. Boyd S.E., Limpenny D.S., Rees H.L., Cooper K.C. The effects of marine sand and gravel extraction on the macrobenthos at a commercial dredging site (results 6years post-dredging). ICES J. Mar. Sci. 2005, 62(2):145-162.
11. Bray R.N., Bates A.D., Land J.M. Dredging: A Handbook for Engineers (Second edition) 1997, Arnold, London.
12. Breder C.M., Rosen D.E. Modes of reproduction in fishes 1966, T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey, 941p.
13. CBD, 2000. Convention on Biological Diversity. http://69.90.183.227/doc/legal/cbd-un-en.pdf.
14. CE & BMAPA, 2010. Marine Aggregate terminology. A Glossary. The Crown Estate & British Marine Aggregate Producers Association. ISBN: 978-1-906410-13-1.
15. Collins K., Mallinson J. Use of shell to speed recovery of dredged aggregate seabed. Marine Aggregate Dredging: Helping to Determine Good Practice. Marine Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) Conference Proceedings: September 2006. Marine Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) Conference Bath, UK 2006, 152-155. Marine Ecological Surveys Ltd. R.C. Newell, D.J. Garner (Eds.).
16. Cooper K.M. Setting limits for acceptable change in sediment particle size composition following marine aggregate dredging. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 2012, 64:1667-1677.
17. Cooper K.M. Setting limits for acceptable change in sediment particle size composition: Testing a new approach to managing marine aggregate dredging. Marine Pollution Bulletin 2013, 73:86-97.
18. Cooper K., Burdon D., Atkins J., Weiss L., Somerfield P., Elliott M., Turner K., Ware S., Vivian C. Seabed Restoration following Marine Aggregate Dredging: Do the Benefits Justify the Costs? MEPF-MALSF Project 09-P115 2011, Cefas, Lowestoft, 111pp.
19. Cooper K.M., Curtis M., Wan Hussin W.M.R., Barrio Froján C.R.S., Defew E.C., Nye V., Patterson D.M. Implications of dredging induced changes in sediment particle size composition for the structure and function of marine benthic macrofaunal communities. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 2011, 62:2087-2094.
20. Cooper, K.M., Eggleton, J.D., Vize, S.J., Vanstaen, K., Smith, R., Boyd, S.E., Ware, S., Morris, C.D., Curtis, M., Limpenny, D.S., Meadows, W.J., 2005. Assessment of the Rehabilitation of the Seabed following Marine Aggregate Dredging - Part II. Sci. Ser. Tech. Rep., Cefas, Lowestoft, vol. 130, 83pp.
21. Cooper K.M., Boyd S.E., Eggleton J.D., Limpenny D.S., Rees H.L., Vanstaen K. Recovery of the seabed following marine aggregate dredging on the Hastings shingle bank off the southeast coast of England. Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci. 2007, 75:547-558.
22. Cooper K.M., Ware S.W., Vanstaen K., Barry J. Gravel seeding - a suitable technique for restoring the seabed following marine aggregate dredging?. Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci. 2011, 91:121-132.
23. Coull K.A., Johnstone R., Rogers S.I. Fisheries Sensitivity Maps in British Waters 1998, Published and distributed by UKOOA Ltd.
24. Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. Official Journal L206, 22.7.1992, 7e50. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/legislation/habitatsdirective/index_en.htm.
25. Daskalov, G.M., Mackinson, S., Mulligan, B., 2011. Modelling Possible Food-effects of Aggregate Dredging in the Eastern English Channel. MEPF-MALSF Project 08-P37. Cefas, Lowestoft, 65pp. ISBN: 978 0 907545 60 6.
26. DECC, 2010. Updated Short Term traded Carbon Values for UK Public Policy Appraisal (June 2010). Department of Energy and Climate Change, London, 4pp. http://www.decc.gov.
27. Defra, 2010a. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) website. http://www.defra.gov.uk/.
28. Defra, 2010b. Guidelines to Defra/DECC's GHG Conversion Factors for Company Reporting. Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, London, 49pp. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment.
29. Defra An Introductory Guide to Valuing Ecosystem Services 2007, Defra, London.
30. de Groot S.J. Marine sand and gravel extraction in the north Atlantic and its potential environmental impact, with emphasis on the North Sea. Ocean Management 1986, 10:21-36.
31. Dickson, R., Lee, A., 1972. Study of the Effects of Marine Gravel Extraction on the Topography of the Seabed. ICES CM 1972/E: 25, 18pp.
32. Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 Establishing a Framework for Community Action in the Field of Water Policy. http://eur-lex.europa.eu.
33. Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 Establishing a Framework for Community Action in the Field of Marine Environmental Policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive). http://eur-ex.europa.eu.
34. Drabble R.C. Projected entrainment of fish resulting from aggregate dredging. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 2012, 64:373-381.
35. De Vriend H.J., Van Koningsveld M. Building with Nature: Thinking, Acting and Interacting Differently 2012, EcoShape, Building with Nature, Dordrecht, the Netherlands.
36. Elliott M. Marine science and management means tackling exogenic unmanaged pressures and endogenic managed pressures - a numbered guide. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 2011, 62:651-655.
37. Elliott M., Burdon D., Hemingway K.L., Apitz S. Estuarine, coastal and marine ecosystem restoration: confusing management and science - a revision of concepts. Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci. 2007, 74:349-366.
38. Emu Ltd., 2009. The Outer Thames Estuary Regional Environmental Charaterisation. MALSF - MEPF Project 08/01. Marine Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund, 146pp.
39. European Commission Directive 2008/56/EC of the European parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive). Official Journal of the European Union 2008, L164:19-40.
40. Fisher B., Turner R.K., Morling P. Defining and classifying ecosystem services for decision making. Ecol. Econ. 2009, 68(3):643-653.
41. Foden J., Rogers S.I., Jones A.P. Recovery rates of UK seabed habitats after cessation of aggregate extraction. Mar. Ecol. Progr. Ser. 2009, 390:15-26.
42. Gray J.S., Elliott M. Ecology of Marine Sediments - From Science to Management 2009, Oxford University Press, Oxford. second ed.
43. Gregory A.J., Atkins J.P., Burdon D., Elliott M. A problem structuring method for ecosystem based management: the DPSIR framework. Euro. J. Oper. Res. 2013, 227:558-569.
44. Hanley N., Barbier E.B. Pricing Nature: Cost-Benefit Analysis and Environmental Policy 2009, Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd., Cheltenham, U.K.
45. Highley, D.E., Hetherington, L.E., Brown, T.J., Harrison, D.J., Jenkins, G.O., 2007. The Strategic Importance of the Marine Aggregate Industry to the UK. British Geological Survey Research Report, OR/07/019.
46. Hitchcock, D.R., Drucker, B.S., 1996. Investigation of benthic and surface plumes associated with marine aggregate mining in the United Kingdom. In: The Global Ocean-Towards Operational Oceanography. Proceedings of the Oceanology International 1996 Conference, Spearhead, Surrey, pp. 221-234.
47. HM Treasury The Green Book: Appraisal and Evaluation in Central Government 2003, HM Treasury, London, UK, 118pp.
48. Kenny, A.J., Johns, D., Smedley, M., Engelhard, G., Barrio-Froján, C., Cooper, K.M., 2010. East Coast Marine Aggregate Integrated Ecosystem Assessment. MEFF - ALSF Project 08/P02, Cefas, Lowestoft, 80pp.
49. Kenny A.J., Rees H.L. The effects of marine gravel extraction on the macrobenthos: early post dredging recolonization. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 1994, 28:442-447.
50. Mace, G.M., Bateman, I., Albon, S., Balmford, A., Brown, C., Church, A., Haines-Young, R., Pretty, J.N., Turner, K., Vira, B., Winn, J., 2011. Chapter 2: Conceptual framework and methodology. In: UK National Ecosystem Assessment, 2011. The UK NEA Technical Report, UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge.
51. MEA Millennium Ecosystem Assessment - Ecosystems and Human Wellbeing Biodiversity Synthesis 2005, Island Press, Washington, DC.
52. Newell R.C., Seiderer L.J., Hitchcock D.R. The impact of dredging works in coastal waters: a review of the sensitivity to disturbance and subsequent recovery of biological resources on the seabed. Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Annu. Rev. 1998, 36:127-178.
53. Newell, R.C., Seider, L.J., Robinson, N.M., Pearce, B., Reeds, K.A., 2004a. Impacts of Overboard Screening on Seabed & Associated Benthic Biological Community Structure in Relation to Marine Aggregate Extraction. Technical Report to the office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) and Minerals Industry Research Organisation (MIRO). Project No. SAMP.1.022. Marine Ecological Surveys Limited, St. Ives, Cornwall, pp. 152.
54. Newell R.C., Seiderer L.J., Simpson N.M., Robinson J.E. Impacts of marine aggregate dredging on benthic macrofauna off the south coast of the United Kingdom. J. Coast. Res. 2004, 20:115-125.
55. ODPM, 2002. Marine Mineral Guidance 1: Extraction by Dredging from the English Seabed, 23pp.
56. OSPAR,1992. Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (2007 Update). OSPAR Commission, London. http://www.ospar.org.
57. PIANC, 2009. Report nr. 100: Dredging Management Practices for the Environment/A Structured Selection Approach, Brussels, Belgium.
58. Rees, H.L., Murray, L.A., Waldock, R., Bolam, S.G., Limpenny, D.S., Mason, C.E., 2002. Dredged material from port developments: a case study of options for effective environmental management. In: Proceedings of the 28th International Conference on Coastal Engineering (ICCE 2002), 7-12 July, Cardiff, Wales.
59. Simpson S.L., Pryor I.D., Mewburn B.R., Batley G.E., Jolley D. Considerations for capping metal-contaminated sediments in dynamic estuarine environments. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2002, 36(7):3772-3778.
60. Stelzenmüller V., Ellis J.R., Rogers S.I. Towards a spatially explicit risk assessment for marine management: assessing the vulnerability of fish to aggregate extraction. Biol. Conserv. 2010, 143:230-238.
61. Svarstad H., Petersen L.K., Rothman D., Siepel H., Wätzold F. Discursive biases of the environmental research framework DPSIR. Land Use Policy 2008, 25:116-125.
62. The Wildlife Trusts, 2006. Recovery and Restoration: Can we Fix It? In: Post conference notes from February 2005 CMS Conference in Association with the Wildlife Trusts.
63. Turner, K., Mee, L., Elliot, M., Burdon, D., Atkins, J.P., Saunders, J., Potts, T., Jickells, T., Beaumont, N., Bee, E., unpublished results. Coastal Zone Ecosystem Services: From Science to Values and Decision Making, A Conceptual Framework. Unpublished Report of the NERC-funded Valuing Nature Network, January 2013, UEA, Norwich.
64. Turner R.K., Paavola J., Cooper P., Farber S., Jessamy V., Georgiou S. Valuing nature: lessons learned and future research directions. Ecol. Econ. 2003, 41:493-510.
65. Turner R.K., Hadley D., Luisetti T., Lam V.W.Y., Cheung W.W.L. An Introduction to Socio-economic Assessment within a Marine Strategy Framework 2010, Defra, London.
66. UK National Ecosystem Assessment The UK National Ecosystem Assessment: Synthesis of the Key Findings 2011, UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge.
67. Vanstaen K., Clark R., Ware S., Eggleton J., James J.C.W., Cotteril C., Rance J., Manco F., Woolmer A. Assessment of the distribution and intensity of fishing activities in the vicinity of aggregate extraction sites. MALSF-MEPF Project 08/P73 2010, Cefas, Lowestoft, 114pp.
68. Wan Hussin W.M.R., Cooper K.M., Barrio Froján C.R.S., Defew E.C., Paterson D.M. Impacts of physical disturbance on the recovery of a macrofaunal community: a comparative analysis using traditional and novel approaches. Ecol. Ind. 2012, 12:37-45.
69. Ware S., Bolam S.G., Rees H.L. Impact and recovery associated with the deposition of capital dredgings at UK disposal sites: lessons for future licensing and monitoring. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 2010, 60:79-90.