Transport, communication, defence and waste
The sea has been used as a way of trading and communication for millennia. Today it is no different although the technology has changed. Ports provide for the transfer of both freight and passengers (ferry and cruise ships). The spoil from the dredging necessary to keep the ports open is often disposed of at sea as is the waste water from industrial processes. The Army, Navy and Air Force use the coast and seas in their defence and security of the country whilst coastal defences safeguard some sites from erosion. The seabed also provides for the laying of today’s fibre optical subsea cables to allow for high speed internet communication. The Case study: Ship and boat building and maintenance describes the role played by this sector to the economy.
The Transport, communication, defence and waste section examines the ‘What, why and where’, ‘Contribution to the economy’, ‘Examples of socio-economic effects’, ‘Pressures on the environment’, and ‘Forward look’ for the sectors. The assessments are to support the government’s vision to show that the seas are productive in economic terms and highlight the various activities for marine planning purposes.
