Projects
This is the list of all ALSF-MEPF projects. Each link will take you to the projects proposal page where you will be able to access all reports related to that particular project.
04/00: Assessment of The Rehabilitation of The Seabed Following Marine Aggregate Dredging. Part II
Cefas
The objective of the project is to use novel data analysis techniques to look at different ways of assessing recovery, so as to improve understanding of the significance of dredging induced changes to seabed communities. This will be achieved by: Identifying appropriate ecosystem function metrics to investigate Workshop to discuss progress and approach Data analysis of selected site(s) to establish protocols and levels of interpretation. Final report and recommendations ..
(Project Reports)
04/01: Eastern English Channel seabed habitat mapping
British Geological Survey
Objectives: Produce digital bathymetric xyz data of UK waters between Selsey Bill (Longitude 0° 47’W) and Dungeness (Longitude 1° 05’E) out to the median line. Process digital xyz data with 3D visualisation software and produce digital sea bed surface morphology models. Interpret sea bed morphology models and correlate with available geological and sedimentological data to improve the resolution of current mapping of rock outcrop, channels, sand wave fields and sand banks. Compare sea bed morphology models with multibeam corridor data acquired by the Eastern English Channel Marine Habitat Map for any temporal variations Evaluate sea bed morphology models against biotope maps produced for Eastern English Channel Marine Habitat Map and amend as necessary ..
(Project Reports)
04/02a: Predictive Framework for Assessment of Recoverability of Marine Benthic Communities Following Cessation of Aggregate Dredging
Marine Ecological Surveys Limited
04/02b: The significance of benthic communities for higher levels in the marine food-web at aggregate dredge sites using the ecosystem approach.
Marine Ecological Surveys Limited
Obejctives: Gutting of over 1000 fish currently held in store on the MESL premises. These fish comprising in excess of 15 taxa were collected during the MEPF 04/02 research program in 2005, and during the MAL0027 research program in 2006. Accessing Cefas fish stomach contents database Analysis of the stomach contents of each of the fish sampled to determine the principal prey species taken by fish. Statistical analysis of the stomach contents in relation to the habitat type and availability of prey species already established from the benthic fauna analyses carried out as part of MEPF 04/02 and MAL0027. Normalisation and statistical analysis of Cefas data ..
(Project Reports)
04/03: Development of a Risk Assessment Framework – Marine Aggregate Extraction Risk Assessment (MARA) Framework
HR Wallingford Ltd.
This project follows on from work funded by ALSF-MEPF in previous years. Objectives: Develop a GIS-based tool that can be used to implement the MARA Framework. Develop a data protocol for marine data that is used within MARA-GIS. Explore the potential for live connections to underpinning datasets. Document the development and use of the MARA-GIS tool. Produce a user guide for how MARA-GIS should be operated. ..
(Project Reports)
04/04: Coupling physical and ecological models: A new approach to predicting the impacts of aggregate extraction on biological recoverability.
ABP Marine Environmental Research Ltd
04/05: Marine ALSF Science Co-ordinator.
Marine Ecological Surveys Limited
The primary objectives of the role are to: Ensure that Defra and ALSF distributing bodies are made aware and kept informed of past and present aggregate sector research and development activity external to ALSF programmes. Ensure that where there is risk of duplication that researchers are aware of other work either under the ALSF or elsewhere, Identify opportunities for adding value by combining, clustering or cross-linking research projects Make suggestions about dissemination of results generally and about how to promote take-up of results, Ensure that Defra and other government stakeholders are aware of the research as appropriate. Contribute to identifying to future research priorities. ..
(Project Reports)
04/06: Marine ALSF Annual Conference.
CMS Ltd
04/07: Marine Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) Offshore Geographical Information System.
ABP Marine Environmental Research Ltd
This project follows on from the MEPF Marine ALSF GIS database project. The project involves the maintainence and update the ALSF GIS metadatabase and digital reports until 31 March 2008. The purpose of the project is to ensure that marine aggregate research provides maximum benefit and addresses policy needs through an improvement in ‘knowledge management’. ..
(Project Reports)
Next Last07/01: Thames REC project
Wessex Archaeology.
Two major Regional Environmental Characterisation Surveys are taking place this summer in the Outer Thames and Isle of Wight/South Coast regions. These surveys have been commissioned by Defra under the Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund and involve a large-scale geophysical survey followed by a benthic sampling survey. The primary aim of the projects is to acquire high quality data to describe broadscale seabed habitats and potential historic environment assets to provide a broader regional environmental context for marine aggregate extraction issues. ..
(Project Reports)
