Dredging and Marine Aggregate Extraction

Dredging and marine aggregate extraction are inherently harmful to the marine environment and are not considered as part of the sustainable blue economy. However, dredging – specifically capital and maintenance dredging – underpins a number of economic sectors that are central to the sustainable blue economy, notably ports, maritime transportation and marine renewable energy. This companion resource to the Dredging & Marine Aggregate Extraction briefing paper: i) sets out key social and environmental concerns associated with dredging, ii) specifies which activities to exclude from financing, and iii) makes recommendations on how financial institutions can minimize harm from dredging and, wherever possible, identify and finance alternatives.