The Authority is committed to undertaking regular monitoring in the Stour and Orwell estuaries to ensure that any operations within the Haven are not negatively impacting biodiversity and habitats. Our environmental monitoring provides valuable information that supports the Authority in future decision making.

Monitoring includes annual benthic (seafloor invertebrate) species surveys and overwintering bird counts as well as five yearly intertidal surveys of the physical environment.

Our regular planned monitoring is supplemented and shaped to incorporate monitoring in relation to new areas of concern or changing requirements. For example occasions may arise where a need has been identified to understand more about a particular habitat or species, or there is rising interest in a particular environmental topic. A recent example where the Authority has adapted its monitoring regime in this way is the addition of an expanded, non-native species survey in 2024 covering locations across our jurisdiction. Furthermore, the concern around rising levels of microplastic in our environment has led to the expansion of our monitoring in 2024 to include sampling for microplastics in our estuaries.

To compliment and support the monitoring work we do, we realise the enormous value of utilizing and supporting citizen science. Not only does citizen science support the ambitions of the United Nations’ target to protect 30% of the globe’s land and water by 2030 it also aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). Since 2023, the Authority has been using the iNaturalist application to set-up and run local nature recording projects which supports us to educate and raise awareness of nature to local stakeholders including the public. The biodiversity data collected from iNaturalist are vital to the scientific community and supports them in their research.

Research
There are many unanswered questions relating to biodiversity, especially in marine and coastal environments. Having an understanding of these environments and their ecosystems is essential to ensure our policies and processes give biodiversity the consideration it requires. The Authority is aware of current and future environmental legislative requirements as well as developing/changing UK and global policies and ambitions. Research into these environments is therefore essential to help us understand and remain at the forefront of the discussions to better identify measures to protect and conserve the biodiversity of these areas.

In recognition of this, the Authority is sponsoring a PhD project at Essex University researching carbon flux in relation to intertidal seagrass in the Stour and Orwell estuaries. Intertidal seagrass is important to the seascape of the UK and has potential to support the fight against climate change through carbon sequestration. It also provides important ecosystem services and could provide an opportunity for meeting future requirements for biodiversity net gain.