Marine Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund MALSF The Outer Thames Estuary Regional Environmental Characterisation Marine Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund MALSF Cover Image Credits Main Image Top Row: Left to Right Bottom Row: Left to Right Inside Front Cover Crown Copyright 2007, Courtesy of Cefas Crown Copyright 2007, Courtesy of Emu Ltd. Crown Copyright 2007, Courtesy of MES Ltd. Copyright British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Crown Copyright 2007, Courtesy of St Andrews Crown Copyright 2007, Courtesy of Emu Ltd. Limited. All rights reserved. Products License University and English Heritage Crown Copyright 2007, Courtesy of MALSF 052008.012 Crown Copyright 2007, Courtesy of Cefas CD Image Credits Main Image Top Row: Left to Right Bottom Row: Left to Right Crown Copyright 2007, Courtesy of Emu Ltd. Crown Copyright 2007, Courtesy of Emu Ltd. Crown Copyright 2007, Courtesy of Emu Ltd. Crown Copyright 2007, Courtesy of St Andrews Crown Copyright 2007, Courtesy of MES Ltd. University and English Heritage Outer Thames Estuary Regional Environmental Characterisation Marine Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (MALSF) Administered by: Report written by: July 2009 09/J/1/06/1305/0870 MEPF 08/01 Outer Thames Estuary Regional Environmental Characterisation Outer Thames Estuary Regional Environmental Characterisation Document Release and Authorisation Record Job No: J/1/06/1305 EMU CONTACT DETAILS CLIENT CONTACT DETAILS Report No: 09/J/1/06/1305/0870 Version: 2 Emu Limited Marine Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (MALSF) Date: July 2009 Head Office Commissioned by the Marine Environment Protection Fund (MEPF) Status: Final Report Client Name: Marine Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (MALSF) 1 Mill Court C/o Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) Client Contact: Patricia Falconer, Marine Environment Protection Fund (MEPF) Durley Pakefield Road Southampton Lowestoft QA Name Signature Date SO32 2EJ Suffolk NR33 0HT Project Manager Ian Selby 30/07/2009 T: 01489 860050 F: 01489 860051 Emu Ltd & Report written by University of Southampton www.emulimited.com Report checked by Nigel Thomas 30/07/2009 Report authorised by Nigel Thomas 30/07/2009 © Crown Copyright 2009 Disclaimer Emu Ltd, Outer Thames Estuary Regional Environmental Characterisation The opinions expressed in this report are entirely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the MALSF or Defra. 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Report Number: 09/J/1/06/1305/0870 i Emu Limited Outer Thames Estuary Regional Environmental Characterisation Contents 2.7.3 Cables and Pipelines.................................... 27 4.6.6 2 m Beam Trawl Data...................................89 2.7.4 Aggregate Dredging ..................................... 27 4.7 Marine Mammals ..........................................................90 Executive Summary....................................................................ix 2.7.5 Dredge Disposal Sites.................................. 28 4.7.1 Data Availability and Information Sources....90 1. Introduction ....................................................................1 2.7.6 Commercial Fishing...................................... 28 4.7.2 Marine Mammals in the Outer Thames 1.1 Aim ................................................................................. 1 3. Geology and Heritage Characterisation.....................29 Estuary REC Study Area ..............................91 1.2 Regional Environmental Characterisation...................... 1 3.1 Geology and Heritage Overview .................................. 29 4.7.3 Cetacean Distribution in the Outer Thames 1.3 Location of the Study Area............................................. 2 3.2 Geology and Heritage Method Statement .................... 29 Estuary REC Study Area ..............................91 1.4 Study Team.................................................................... 2 3.2.1 Geology........................................................ 29 4.7.4 Pinniped Distribution in the Outer Thames 1.5 Data Sources ................................................................. 2 3.2.2 Heritage........................................................ 30 Estuary REC Study Area ..............................91 1.6 Report Structure............................................................. 3 3.3 Geological History ........................................................ 31 4.8 Ornithology ...................................................................92 1.7 Outputs........................................................................... 3 3.3.1 Cretaceous................................................... 31 4.8.1 Marine Bird Species within the Outer Thames Estuary REC Study area ................92 2. Regional Setting.............................................................7 3.3.2 Cenozoic ...................................................... 31 4.8.2 Future Designations .....................................92 2.1 The Coast....................................................................... 7 3.3.3 Quaternary ................................................... 35 4.9 Commercial Fisheries ...................................................93 2.2 Bathymetry and Seabed Morphology............................. 8 3.4 Heritage........................................................................ 41 5. Integrated Assessment of Habitats and Biotopes ....95 2.2.1 The Western Zone ......................................... 8 3.4.1 Archaeology and Sea-Level Change............ 41 2.2.2 The Central Zone ........................................... 8 3.4.2 Archaeological Review................................. 43 5.1 Morphological Zones ....................................................95 2.2.3 The Eastern Zone .......................................... 8 3.5 Integrated Geological and Archaeological Chronology 52 5.2 Palaeochannel Fauna...................................................95 2.3 Seabed Sediments and Sediment Transport ............... 12 4. Ecological Characterisation........................................55 5.3 Features of Conservation Interest ................................96 2.3.1 Western Zone .............................................. 12 4.1 Benthic Macrofauna ..................................................... 55 5.3.1 Habitats ........................................................96 2.3.2 Central Zone ................................................ 15 4.1.1 Hamon Grab Data .......................................