Glossary

Biodiversity Action Plan. A strategy for conserving and enhancing wild species and wildlife habitats in the UK.

The conditions existing before the commencement of mineral operations. This may not be the “natural” state, as there may be other impacts already operating.

The conditions existing before the dredging operations begin. This may not be the "natural" state as there may be other impacts already operating, such as from other offshore industries.

The EC Bathing Waters Directive (76/160/EEC) is a piece of European legislation used to protect public health and the environment from faecal pollution at bathing sites. It requires Member States to monitor water quality at bathing sites during the bathing season (mid-May to September), and meet a number of microbiological and physico-chemical standards, including water transparency.

Depth of the seabed, analogous with current seabed topography. Bathymetric surveys measure this topography using single or multi-beam echosounders.

The transport of sediment down a beach profile into natural or dredging-related depressions offshore.

A cross-sectional plot of beach survey data, which can be used to illustrate seasonal and long-terms changes in beach volume.

Replacement of beach sand removed by ocean waters. Sediment from other areas is supplied by mechanical means to supplement sand on an existing beach or to build up an eroded beach.

Sediment transported in contact with the bed

Bottom-dwelling organisms

Flora and fauna living on the sea floor

Biological diversity relating to all life forms, including species richness, ecosystem complexity and genetic variation.

A strategy for conserving and enhancing wild species and wildlife habitats in the UK.

The part of the Earth and its atmosphere in which living things are found

Flora and fauna

Well-defined geographical area, characterised by specific ecological conditions which physically supports the organisms that live there.

An EC Directive which provides a framework for the conservation and management of, and human interactions with, wild birds in Europe.

The British Marine Aggregate Producers Association (BMAPA) is the trade association for Britain's marine-dredged sand and gravel industry.

Standard values used to determine whether aggregates are of a suitable quality for use in building and construction, such as the percentage shell content in coarse marine aggregates.