Bolle, A.

Degraer, S.

Mertens, T.

Schoukens, H.

Smits, M.

Vanden Eede, S.

Open Marine Archive

Beach nourishment and the impact on Natura 2000
Vanden Eede Sarah1, Michiei Smits', Annelies Bolle', Hendrik Schoukens2, Tina Mertens3 
and Steven Degraer4
' International Marine and Dredging Consultants (IMDC)
Coveliersstraat 15, 2600 Berchem 
E-mail: sarah.vanden.eede@imdc.be
2 Department o f Public International Law, Ghent University 
Universiteitstraat 4, 9000 Gent
3 Flanders Marine Institute
InnovOcean site, Wandelaarkaai 7, 8400 Oostende
4 OD/DO Natuurlijk M ilieu/M ilieux Naturels, Marine Ecosystem Management Section 
Royal Belgian Institute o f Natural Sciences, GulledeIle 100, 1200 Brussels
The Belgian coastline is a dynamic environment where currents, waves and wind interact w ith the 
natural coastal defence system o f beaches and dunes. In theory, the coastline should w ithstand a 
1000 year storm event, but at its weakest links only a 100 year protection level is currently reached. 
In the past so-called ‘hard’ infrastructure (dykes, quay walls and groins) was constructed to protect 
the land from  the impact o f the sea. Pending the realization o f the ‘Master Plan fo r Coastal Safety’ , 
the weakest beaches are annually maintained w ith ‘so ft’ measures, e.g. beach nourishments. 
Belgian beaches contain fine sand (200-250pm), whereas from  a geotechnical point o f view the 
nourished sand ideally has a grain size o f at least 300pm creating more stable beaches. However, 
the ecological effects o f beach nourishment can be d irectly related to changes in grain size 
(Speybroeck et al., 2006). Impact research focuses on macrobenthos, the seafloor inhabiting 
benthic form s larger than one m illimeter, as these organisms play a key role in the w ider beach 
ecosystem. Locally, strong negative impact effects are expected during and imm ediately fo llow ing 
nourishment since the chances o f survival o f the original beach fauna and flora are almost zero 
(Harte et al., 2002; Speybroeck et al., 2004). The speed and degree o f ecological recovery largely 
depend on the physical characteristics o f the beach habitat. Macrobenthic organisms tolerate only 
small m odifications in beach slope and sediment grain size (150-300pm). In general, phased 
nourishment with natural sediment and beach slope during w inter are recommended (Van Tomme, 
201 3; Vanden Eede, 201 3), urging fo r an optim ization o f the technical nourishment aspects.
When considering beach nourishment in the neighbourhood o f European protected sites, one must 
take into account the strict regulatory fram ework with respect to  Natura 2000, which is included in 
the Habitats Directive (Directive 92/43/EEC). In particular, article 6, §§3-4 contains a development 
regime, setting out the criteria under which plans and projects with possible negative effects on 
Natura 2000 may or may not be allowed. A precautionary approach is required when assessing the 
possible effects o f beach nourishment. In the Flemish Region th is fram ework has been implemented 
in the Nature Conservation Decree in 2002, while the Royal Decree o f 14 October 2005 contains the 
federal implem entation fo r the Belgian part o f the North Sea. A lthough the requirements o f Article 
6, §§3-4 o f the Habitats Directive are quite straightforward, the application on beach nourishment 
proved to be quite burdensome the past years, partia lly due to  the incorrect implementation o f the 
Habitats Directive in the Flemish legislation (Schoukens et al., 2007). The d ifficu lt and sometimes 
very incoherent application o f the rules o f nature conservation on beach nourishment, illustrates the 
need fo r a more coherent legal fram ework w ith an ecosystem based strategic approach, allowing fo r 
onsite m itigation and or offsite compensation.
To investigate whether intertidal beach nourishment has a s ign ificant negative impact on the global 
conservation status o f nearby Natura 2000 areas, a fourfo ld  assessment approach was created and 
followed in some Belgian case studies (IMDC, 2011 ; 201 2).
References
Harte M., P.M. H untjesJ.M . Mulder S. and E.W. Raadschelders. 2002. Zandsuppleties en Europese 
richtlijnen: R ijksinstituut voor Kust en Zee/RIKZ. M inisterie van Verkeer en Waterstaat.
IMDC. 2011. Referentiekader habitattype 1140 in het kader van de ecologische optim alisatie van het 
Geïntegreerd Kustveiligheidsplan. I/NO/1 1310/1 1.259/MSM. In opdracht van Afdeling Kust. 
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Beach nourishment and the impact on Natura 2000

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