Evidence Review on Sewage Discharge Risks in Proposed Marine Protected Areas

About

Natural England awarded a contract to the University of Brighton for collating and updating the evidence base on pressures and impacts from sewerage discharges occurring within or closely adjacent to two proposed Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs).

The project supports advice on whether such discharges may hinder recovery of the marine natural environment, with the draft conservation objectives for the pilot HPMAs aiming to achieve full natural recovery of biological communities and prevent further degradation.

Natural England will use the outputs to provide recommendations to Defra on minimising and mitigating impacts to non-damaging levels, and to inform competent authorities' site-level management and future research targeting improved recovery in HPMAs and wider Marine Protected Areas.

The contract value is AUD 20,098.