GovWire

The dredging activity on the Tees has attracted a lot of attention because of the mass crustacean mortality event of Autumn 2021. The dredging/disposal of dredged material is highly regulated in England and this page has been established to provide stakeholders with clarity on how the MMO regulates the activity.

To date, there has been no causal link established between the dredging in the Tees and the mass crustacean mortality event and subsequent investigations including by independent scientists have also concluded that it is very unlikely that a release of any toxic chemical due to maintenance dredging could have caused the deaths. You can access the reports undertaken at the following link online:

• Joint agency investigation into Teesside and Yorkshire Coast Crab and Lobster mortalities
• Assessment of unusual crustacean mortality in the north-east of England in 2021 and 2022

MMO Jurisdiction

The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 provides that a marine licence is required for certain activities carried out within the UK marine area.

TheMMOis responsible for marine licensing in English waters and for Northern Ireland offshore waters.

Find out more about the MMOs jurisdiction.

Activities that may need a marine licence

There are categories of activity that may need a marine licence, including certain types of construction, dredging and disposal activities.

The links below provide more information about these activities, and the circumstances in which they may need a marine licence:

• Construction (including laying of cables, maintenance, alteration or improvement of existing structures and assets)
• Dredging
• Deposit of any substance or object

The MMO is not responsible for regulating all dredging activity as statutory harbour authorities (including PD Teesport) have their own powers to dredge.

Activities in and around the marine environment may also require additional consents, irrespective of whether they need a marine licence or not.

Dredging and disposal activity within the Teesside area

Capital and maintenance dredging are common activities around the coast of England and have taken place on the Tees for many decades.

The decisions on dredging methodologies and disposal of dredge material are fundamental to the continued operation of ports and associated industries.

Requirements of dredging techniques may be entirely dependent on local conditions, and an assessment is made pre-determination as a part of the licensing process as to the type of dredging allowed to take place and any mitigation required is included as licence conditions.

Sampling and sediment analysis

As part of the licensing process, the MMO require sediment chemistry data from applicants to inform marine licence decision making. Sediment is tested from within a proposed dredge footprint and an assessment made prior to allowing sediment to be disposed of at sea.

The sediment dredged for ongoing projects in the Tees has been tested and assessed in accordance with international obligations.

To ensure dredged sediment placed at offshore designated disposal grounds are not having unacceptable impacts, disposal sites, including the Tees, are subject to frequent survey.

The MMO regulate the disposal of dredge materials to sea using guidelines produced by the OSPAR Convention. The precautionary principle is applied as part of the decision-making process.

Further information is available at marine licensing: physical and chemical dererminands for sediment sampling.

Inspections

As a statutory regulator for this activity, the Marine Management Organisation also conducts marine licence inspections on the dredging works. Inspections on licensed activities are conducted periodically throughout the length of the licence for dredging practices locally.

Current active marine licence applications which have been licensed by the MMO

There are several active licenses which the MMO has approved for activity within the Tees. An overview of these cases is available from the MMOs selected cases pages at the following links:

• Able Seaton Port berths, Holding Basin and Channel
• Tees and Hartlepool Maintenance Dredge Disposal Licence
• South Bank Quay marine licence applications

MMO Public Register

Further detail of all Marine Licence applications, including supporting evidence provided by the applicant and relevant sampling and sediment analysis, can also be found on the 