Louisa Morman

MSc Managing Environmental Change
St Andrews University

An Examination of the Marine Aggregates Industry Approach to dealing with Climate Change

Abstract

The marine aggregate industry is under pressure and constant scrutiny due to the impacts dredging has on many natural systems. Despite this there is increasing demand for aggregate collected from the sea bed. The effects of climate change are becoming more widely understood, however there is little evident research on how the marine aggregates industry intends to deal with the effects of climate change both now and in the future. Five interviews have been conducted through varying means in order to establish the extent of knowledge and future implications the industry may face. The interviewees were chosen for their well established reputations and therefore opinions held are likely to show a true and fair view of the problem. It has been discovered that the industry is dealing with the current pressures it is under from both climate change and socio-economic scrutiny but has little knowledge of how it will mitigate problems in the future.