Associated British Ports

ABPmer APPOINTED TO UNDERTAKE WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE RESEARCH
ABP Marine Environmental Research (ABPmer) has been commissioned by the Environment Agency (EA) to undertake the development of a process to determine which of the UK�s estuary and coastal sites represent heavily-modified water bodies under the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD: Article 4(3)). The study is being carried out in association with the Centre for the Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, the Institute for Estuarine and Coastal Studies and risk and policy analysts.

The project is one of a number of studies being commissioned by the EA to address operational guidance for the identification and designation of heavily-modified water bodies and artificial-water bodies in England and Wales. Such designations acknowledge the fact that many water bodies have been extensively modified by man�s activities and, as such, it is necessary to set realistic environmental targets.

Stephen Hull, Project Director, ABPmer, said:

�The Water Framework Directive is the most important environmental legislation ever to come out of Europe; it has significant implications for industry and other water users.

�There is currently a lot of misunderstanding about the designation process. It is primarily about legitimising and protecting existing water uses, while ensuring that the mitigation of the impacts of these uses is progressed where possible, subject to a number of strict tests laid down in the Directive. Heavily-modified water-body status is not a derogation from Directive requirements and, where waters are designated, there will still be a requirement to take measures to improve ecological potential.

�Over the coming months, we will be consulting with industry and other water users on the development of the framework and would very much welcome input from interested parties and stakeholders.�

17th July 2003

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