The British environmental organisation, the Sussex Wildlife Trust is battling a recent government decision to allow the dumping of some 100,000 tonnes of dredged sediment directly into a locally protected marine conservation area every year for the next ten years.

The legal action taken to protect the Beachy Head West Marine Conservation Zone exposes the current inadequate protections afforded to marine protected areas, arguing that if licence to deposit dredged spoil into an area of conservation, such areas are “protected in name only.”

Beachy Head West Marine Conservation Zone is a nationally important wildlife hotspot and home to a variety of celebrated marine animals, including the short-snouted seahorse, blue mussel beds, and a unique chalk reef. Dumping dredged sediment into this protected area will impact the sensitive ecosystem and the wildlife dependent upon it.

Earlier this year, Brighton Marina applied for a renewed licence to continue dumping dredged spoil into the conservation area, a licence that was originally granted before the Marine Conservation Zone was designated. That application was approved by the Marine Management Organisation – the UK government’s principal regulator for English waters and the authority responsible for ensuring sustainable marine development – in May this year.

The Sussex Wildlife Trust, alongside other environmental charities and hundreds of individuals have responded to the consultation to object to the renewal of that licence. Secretary of State, Steve Reed MP has reportedly received over 1,500 emails from those sharing their concerns about the continued dumping in a protected area.

Despite those strong objections, the MMO granted permission for the continued dumping of 100,000 tonnes of dredged spoil into Beachy Head West every year for the next ten years. In response, the Sussex Wildlife Trust has applied for a judicial review of the decision – a legal process by which a court will examine the lawfulness of the decision made.

“Bold action is the only way to continue to fight for this protected area,” said Henri Brocklebank, director of conservation at the Sussex Wildlife Trust. “By applying for judicial review, we are following our own values of being the strongest advocate for nature in Sussex.

“Inaction will see the continued dumping of 100,000 tonnes of dredged sediment in our Marine Conservation Zone every year for the next ten years – this is not acceptable in a protected area and is a terrible precedent to set for the future management of all 91 Marine Conservation Zones around the English coast.”

The legal action will be hinged on the argument that significant harm to this protected area resulting from the disposal of the dredged spoil could not be lawfully ruled out. It accuses the Marine Management Organisation of failing to “properly assess the impact” of the licence.

“Our client’s legal action seeks to rescue the Beachy Head West Marine Conservation Zone from further pollution,” said Rowan Smith, senior associate solicitor at Leigh Day. “Our client is rightly concerned about the steps that led to the new licence, and we hope the Court will grant permission for a hearing to fully scrutinise that decision-making process.”

In a statement posted online, the Sussex Wildlife Trusts, added that: “In the midst of a nature and climate crisis, it’s vital we take every step possible to secure nature’s recovery. We need to make sure Beachy Head West, and all marine protected areas are properly protected.”

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