Ecological Condition of the Benthos in Milford Haven Waterway: the Centre of the UK’s Oil and Gas Industry in an Area of High Conservation Value

Richard Warwick; James Tweedley; Michael Camplin; Blaise Bullimore

doi:10.3390/oceans6010002

Back

Ecological Condition of the Benthos in Milford Haven Waterway: the Centre of the UK’s Oil and Gas Industry in an Area of High Conservation Value

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Ecological Condition of the Benthos in Milford Haven Waterway: the Centre of the UK’s Oil and Gas Industry in an Area of High Conservation Value

Richard Warwick, James Tweedley, Michael Camplin and Blaise Bullimore

Oceans (Basel, Switzerland), Vol.6(1), 2

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/oceans6010002

Files and links (1)

pdf

Published6.85 MBDownload View

CC BY V4.0, Open Access

Abstract

Anthropogenic factors

Benthic communities

Benthos

Brackishwater environment

Community composition

Ecological conditions

Environmental conditions

Environmental indicators

Estuaries

Granulometry

Hydrocarbons

Industrial development

Invertebrates

Macrobenthos

Oil and gas industries

Oil and gas industry

Oil spills

Particle size

PCB

Polychlorinated biphenyls

Ports

Salinity

Sediments

Surveillance

Taxonomy

Zoobenthos

This study determined the environmental condition of the benthos of Milford Haven Waterway, an area that is arguably the most vulnerable in the UK to anthropogenic activities, including the potential effects of a major oil spill in 1996, using historical data on the macrobenthos more than a decade later in 2008, 2010 and 2013. These data show a gradual decline in numerous univariate diversity measures from the outer (marine) to inner (estuarine) stations. Taxonomic distinctness generally falls within the expected range, and most stations have above-average values compared with other monitoring stations around the UK. The W-statistics for Abundance/Biomass Comparison (ABC) plots are usually strongly positive and never negative. There was a sequential change in community composition from the outer to inner stations, which was strongly related to salinity, and, to a lesser extent, sediment granulometry. None of the species regarded as indicators of organic pollution were prominent in the macrobenthic community of Milford Haven Waterway. On this basis, although there are some slight indications of environmental perturbation at particular sites in certain years, it can be concluded that the benthic communities of Milford Haven Waterway are in a healthy state. This study provides a baseline against which the potential effects of any future environmental accidents and/or the increased industrial development can be assessed.

Details

Title: Ecological Condition of the Benthos in Milford Haven Waterway: the Centre of the UK’s Oil and Gas Industry in an Area of High Conservation Value
Authors/Creators: Richard Warwick - Plymouth Marine Laboratory
James Tweedley - Murdoch University, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems
Michael Camplin - Natural Resources Wales
Blaise Bullimore - Seascape Consultants (United Kingdom)
Publication Details: Oceans (Basel, Switzerland), Vol.6(1), 2
Publisher: MDPI AG
Number of pages: 23
Grant note: Milford Haven Waterway Environmental Surveillance Group
This study was financed by the Milford Haven Waterway Environmental Surveillance Group and managed by the Milford Haven Port Authority.
Identifiers: 991005753924507891
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems; School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

Source: InCites

Metrics

127 File views/ downloads

34 Record Views