Environmental Monitoring of Dredging Operations in the Belgian Nearshore Zone

The Belgian Waterways and Marine Affairs Administration is monitoring its dredging and relocation operations in the Belgian coastal harbors, to ensure that the Best Available Technique Not Entailing Excessive Costs (BATNEEC) principle is followed. Physical, chemical, and ecotoxicological monitoring methods were tested at a small dredging site in Nieuwpoort Harbour. Monitoring results on sediment quality indicate that maintenance dredging and relocation operations in this area only cause a visual effect but do not have any other adverse environmental impacts.