What is a REC?

A Regional Environmental CharacterisationA scientific research project to assess the physical (geology), biological (ecology) and archaeological environment of a particular study area. (RECRegional Environmental Characterisation survey - a scientific research project to assess the physical (geology), biological (ecology) and archaeological environment of a particular study area.) survey is a regional assessment of the geology, ecology and archaeology of the seafloor using information gathered through desk based assessmentcollects and summarises in a report information about a specific subject for a defined area, in this case the RECRegional Environmental Characterisation survey - a scientific research project to assess the physical (geology), biological (ecology) and archaeological environment of a particular study area. study area. This includes any relevant research already undertaken and other sources of information about the marine environment for the study area., geophysicalUsing scientific techniques to take images and map the physical properties of the seafloor, what it looks like and what it is made of. data and sampling surveys.

Looking after our seas

The aim of the research was to create maps that will inform marine planning.  Industries make applications for licences to use an area of the sea, for example for aggregate dredging.  Government authorities use these maps to  ensure that the work is undertaken responsibly, taking into consideration our underwater resources, including sea animal habitatsWhere animals choose to live. and archaeology.

• Geologists produced maps showing the morphologyThe form and shape of the seafloor features, what it looks like. and sediment distribution, which in other words means they mapped what the seafloor looks like and what it is made of.  They also studied how the seafloor formed and changed over time.  These maps form the basis of the work undertaken by the archaeologists and ecologists.

• Ecologists produced biotopeA European classification used for identifying a particular sea animal community and its habitatWhere an animal chooses to live.. Ecologists use them to map different sea animal communities across an area. maps showing the locations of different sea animal communities and their habitatsWhere animals choose to live..

• Archaeologists produced maps showing the potential locations of areas of prehistoric material, and actual locations of ship and aircraft wrecks. 

This website promotes the results of four RECSRegional Environmental Characterisation surveys - scientific research projects to assess the physical (geology), biological (ecology) and archaeological environment of a particular study area. – the Outer Thames EstuaryAn estuary is an inlet of the sea, into which flows a river or stream., South Coast, East Coast and Humber - undertaken between 2008 and 2011.

Explore the website to discover how the scientists undertook the research, what they found out and the resulting maps. 

Funding

This research was commissioned by the Marine Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (MALSFMarine Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund).  These four RECsRegional Environmental Characterisation surveys - scientific research projects to assess the physical (geology), biological (ecology) and archaeological environment of a particular study area. are areas of the seafloor that are used for dredging sands and gravels. This material, called aggregate, is used in construction around the UK and around 20% of all the aggregate we need comes from the sea. By taking some of the aggregate that we use from the sea we reduce the distance travelled by lorries as material is delivered straight from the ship to towns and cities on the coast. In fact, in the South East, ships deliver the equivalent of 820 lorries of aggregate to coastal towns every single day.

Marine aggregate dredging is heavily monitored in order to protect the marine life and heritage of our seabed. Before any dredging can take place, detailed scientific surveys are undertaken to understand more about the marine environment. Dredging is only carried out in licensed areas and a tax is imposed when aggregates are sold. This encourages people to recycle and provides a fund to carry out research to protect the seafloor.

This is an aggregate dredger