Introduction

Marine aggregates (sand and gravel) and maërl sediments form important benthic (seabed) habitats with characteristic animal and plant communities. Such habitats are often crucial spawning and nursery grounds for finfish and shellfish species, including those of commercial importance.

Any physical disturbance, let alone the removal of entire areas ("strip-mining") of such habitats, and alteration to the depth and topography of the seabed, may have potentially serious and long-lasting negative impacts on biodiversity, and on coastal erosion.

Commercial-scale extraction of marine aggregates and maërl is all the more concerning given the knowledge gaps that exist regarding the ecology of these benthic sedimentary habitat types around Ireland, as well as regarding the mitigation and management of these impacts.