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

Cooper, Keith; Burdon, Daryl; Atkins, Jonathan P.; Weiss, Laura; Somerfield, Paul; Elliott, Michael; Turner, Kerry; Ware, Suzanne; Vivian, Chris

Abstract

Physical and biological seabed impacts can persist long after the cessation of marine aggregate dredging. Whilst small-scale experimental studies have shown that it may be possible to mitigate such impacts, it is unclear whether the costs of restoration are justified on an industrial scale. Here we explore this question using a case study off the Thames Estuary, UK. By understanding the nature and scale of persistent impacts, we identify possible techniques to restore the physical properties of the seabed, and the costs and the likelihood of success. An analysis of the ecosystem services and goods/benefits produced by the site is used to determine whether intervention is justified. Whilst a comparison of costs and benefits at this site suggests restoration would not be warranted, the analysis is site-specific. We emphasise the need to better define what is, and is not, an acceptable seabed condition post-dredging.

Citation

Cooper, K., Burdon, D., Atkins, J. P., Weiss, L., Somerfield, P., Elliott, M., …Vivian, C. (2013). 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, 75(1-2), 33-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.08.009

• Acceptance Date: Feb 1, 2013
• Online Publication Date: Sep 4, 2013
• Publication Date: Oct 15, 2013
• Deposit Date: Nov 13, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 13, 2014
• Journal: Marine pollution bulletin
• Print ISSN: 0025-326X
• Electronic ISSN: 1879-3363
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 75
• Issue: 1-2
• Pages: 33-45
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.08.009
• Keywords: Aquatic Science; Pollution; Oceanography
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/369211
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X1300461X
• Additional Information: NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Marine pollution bulletin. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Marine pollution bulletin, v.75, issue 1-2 (2013) DOI10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.08.009