A wildlife charity says Brighton Marina should find a new disposal site rather than using one already used by Newhaven Port.
The marina has not been able to dredge since Sussex Wildlife Trust successfully challenged the granting of a ten-year licence to dispose of material off Rottingdean, the site it previously used.
This month Premier Marinas, which owns the marina, said it was in discussions with the government’s Marine Management Organisation, which grants licences, to use the same site as Newhaven Port.
But the trust says its uncertain what impact more material being dumped there would have – and has called for another site to be found.
In a statement, it said: “It’s important to note that the Newhaven disposal site is adjacent to Beachy Head West marine conservation zone (MCZ), and we remain concerned about potential impacts on this marine protected area.
“Our preferred option is a new disposal site offshore, well away from the MCZ.
“Within marine licence applications the applicant (i.e. Brighton Marina) has an obligation to fully consider alternative disposal sites.
“The suitability of the Newhaven site would therefore need to be assessed and evidenced by Brighton Marina and then scrutinised by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) – particularly because this site is already being used for dredge disposal by Newhaven Port.
“There is currently no available data or evidence to quantify the environmental impacts of any additional dredge disposal at Newhaven.
“Sussex Wildlife Trust awaits further information submitted by the applicant to determine what the environmental impacts might be, with particular focus on impacts to the adjacent MCZ.
“Until we have this information, Sussex Wildlife Trust does not have a view on whether Newhaven is a suitable alternative disposal site.
“We will respond to any further licence application as and when it is submitted, and our comments will be based on the ecological evidence supplied alongside it.”
