Coastal Zone Management- Dredging Proposal 28/11/2007

Falmouth, Cornwall may be seeing a substantial increase in shipping if a proposal to dredge the harbour goes ahead. A meeting for the proposed dredging of the Fal Estuary was on the cards today, 28/11/2007. However information supplied regarding the date was sufficiently inaccurate for us to miss the consultation by an entire day. None the less to get up to speed with the content and confict read on.

The details of the consultation were Management based questions on the effects the dredging may have on its surrounding environment. A form of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Follow this link below to view the complete scoping study document on the proposal to dredge.

http://www.falmouthport.co.uk/pdf/scoping_study.pdf


Areas that may be effected by this dredging include:

1. Commercial fisheries.

• Mussel Farm near King Harry Ferry
• The sustainable Native oyster dredging in the Estaury.

The local dredging industry is an age old tradtional method of fishing in which the tradition is often handed down from father to son, generation to generation. This concern of the impact of dredging is one of both Cultural and Economical importance, reaching deep into parts of Cornish roots and identity in the local area and is coupled with the livelyhood and dependancy of many local families on the dredging industry. Keeping this in mind, it is not too difficult to see the obvious dilemmas which may arise if the dredging goes ahead without public consultancy.

2. Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) in the Fal and Helford, CLICK ON THE LINK below to view an inter active map showing the geography and boundaries.

http://www.magic.gov.uk/website/magic/viewer.htm?startTopic=magicall&chosenLayers=sacIndex&sqgridref=SW747261&startscale=500000

For reasons pertaining to the choice of selecting the Fal and Helford as a SAC follow the link below to the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC).

http://www.jncc.gov.uk/protectedsites/sacselection/sac.asp?EUcode=UK0013112

3. Noise and vibration.

4. Commercial navigation.

5. Marine and coastal ecology.

6. Marine and coastal ornithology.

7. Terresrial ecology.

8. Sediment and water quality.

9. Archiology and heritage.

10. Recreation and leisure.

11. Air quality.

12. Geology, landscape and visual setting.

13. Traffic and transportation.

14. Socio-economics.