Impact and recovery associated with the deposition of capital dredgings at UK disposal sites: Lessons for future licensing and monitoring

The majority of studies relating to impacts and recovery at dredgings disposal sites have concentrated on areas subject to regular and frequent disposals of maintenance dredgings over relatively long time periods. In comparison less is known regarding the significance of impacts and the recovery processes associated with the disposal of capital dredgings that commonly involves the infrequent deposition of heterogenous material over relatively restricted time periods. Impacts and recovery processes are likely to be different to those associated with the disposal of maintenance dredgings. For example, findings suggest that capital dredgings deposited at both the Roughs Tower and Barrow-in-Furness result in the occurrence of persistent changes to seafloor substrata within the license area and this subsequently effects the composition of associated faunal communities present. Moreover, whilst the two disposal sites are geographically distinct similar species are identified as being particularly sensitive to capital disposal activities in both areas.