Clause 75
Marine and Coastal Access Bill [Lords]
12:45 pm
Andrew George (St Ives, Liberal Democrat)
Hayle harbour authority is responsible for maintaining a safe, navigable channel for harbour users, but that is not the only instance in which dredging takes place for such a purpose. A time-limited licence applies. A licence is not needed every time a boat goes out to dredge the channel, but it applies for a period during which dredging activity may take place. That dredging clearly has an impact on the wider marine environment, not just on the area being dredged.
It is important that the Minister be aware that allowing a laissez-faire approach in some harbours and estuaries would mean that, where the harbour authority responsible for maintaining the safe, navigable channel goes ahead with its dredging activities without consideration of the consequences in the area around it, that would result in denuding sand and sediment from other areas, because it would be dredging those things from its own channel. That would also have knock-on consequences for the marine wildlife. In some circumstances—for example, when dredging a harbour or estuary that may have historical and archaeological remains in it—heritage bodies may need to be consulted as well.
Although I understand the purposes of the amendment, we need to press forward on this issue with some caution.