Posted on March 11, 2026
By Joshua Askew
The owners of Brighton Marina have said they are seeking permission to dredge the site and dispose of the material in the sea.
Premier Marinas said the one-year interim license is needed to keep the harbour safe and accessible.
Sussex Wildlife Trust oppose what they call the “damaging activity” as they claim dredged sediment harms wildlife and contains pollutants.
A spokesperson for Brighton Marina said dredging and dispersal has taken place for decades and is “tightly regulated”.
“The material is tested, monitored and subject to strict licence conditions,” they added.
It comes after Premier Marinas’ previous license was quashed on procedural grounds.
‘Black, thick, slimy’
The dredged sediment is disposed of at a site in Rottingdean, which sits in the Beachy Head West Marine Conservation Zone.
Campaigners previously told the BBC material from dredging fills nearby rock pools with a “black, thick, slimy, petrochemically smelling sludge“.
Premier Marinas has said dredged silt is not harmful to the environment.
