Marine Environment
As a responsible Harbour Authority, we comply with national and international legislation to deliver our statutory duties. We also apply best practice to ensure we minimise our impact on the environment and operate efficiently. We aim to mitigate potential environmental issues and ‘work with nature’ to deliver sustainable nature-based solutions to climate change impacts across our ports.
Peel Ports are progressive and proactive towards their marine environmental responsibilities. We achieve this through innovation, support, and the identification of cost-effective initiatives that deliver environmental improvements.
Who we work with
As part of our statutory duties and approach to responsible business, we work with a number of external stakeholders to deliver our statutory duties and assess innovative opportunities which deliver environmental benefits. Example Stakeholders include:
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS)
- Clyde Marine Planning Partnership
- Environment Agency
- Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCA)
- Marine Management Organisation
- Marine Directorate
- Natural England
- NatureScot
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
- Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
- The Angling Trust
- The Crown Estate
At a national level, we participate in the development of regional Marine Plans in both England and Scotland, regularly liaising with regulatory bodies to ensure that the final plan policies are proportional with regards to the social, economic and environmental activities across the marine areas of our ports.
Marine Biosecurity
In a world where we are becoming increasingly connected and our climate is changing there is an increasing risk that invasive non-native marine species (INNS) are transferred into regions where they were not found previously.
As a responsible port operator we have developed a Marine Biosecurity Plan which focuses on taking practical steps throughout the marine activities in our ports to reduce the transfer risk of INNS.
Dredging
As a Statutory Harbour Authority we have a duty to maintain safe navigational access into our Ports, this is achieved through maintenance dredging.
Beneficial re-use of dredged material
Dredging is a fundamental responsibility across our 7 Statutory Harbour Authorities to facilitate safe navigation within our ports. Our Group Marine Team regularly investigates opportunities for beneficial re-use of dredge material and have established local Sediment Stakeholder Groups across each of our ports to discuss and deliver sustainable solutions that benefit the environment by reducing carbon emissions and enhancing or building habitat.
Species Protection
As a Statutory Harbour Authority we have a duty to conserve and protect the environments within our ports.
Climate Change
Climate change is a growing business risk to the functionality of transport networks, including ports. The Marine Team are looking at possible climate change adaptation strategies in response to the latest climate change scenarios.
Group Marine Environmental Award
Peel Ports are excited to invite nominations for our annually Group Marine Environmental Award. This Award recognises extraordinary efforts by organisations and individuals to protect and enhance the aquatic environments across Peel Ports Statutory Harbour Authority (SHA) areas.
