United Kingdom dredge disposal returns data, and associated disposal site dataset, for meeting obligations under OSPAR and London Convention/London Protocol

This paper describes the data that is collected and analysed annually by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), on behalf of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) and Jersey, Guernsey, and Isle of Man. The respective regulatory authorities provide data on the permits to dispose of dredged material that have been issued in a reporting year (January to December) as well as the amount of material that has been disposed within designated disposal sites within the same reporting year. The data are analysed to determine the contaminant loading that is placed at the respective disposal sites. Outputs from data analysis are submitted to international treaties (The Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic and the London Convention/ London Protection) to determine progress towards the objectives of reducing pollution into the marine environment.