Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are taking any steps to advance the use of environmentally considerate methods of clearing unexploded ordnance from the sea floor.

Defra recognises the significant impact underwater noise from unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance by detonation can have on vulnerable marine species. Many UXOs lie in areas designated for planned windfarm projects, on cable routes and in areas used by other marine industries, and must be removed to allow safe working conditions.

The Government is aware of, and is investigating, a number of alternative methods to remove UXOs from the seabed. However, these methods have not yet been scientifically proven to be effective in the marine environment and could disturb the ordnance but not fully detonate it, posing health, safety and environmental concerns. Our priority is to ensure any new methods are effective in the marine environment, adhere to relevant health, safety and environmental considerations and are based on robust evidence.

The Government is working closely with scientists, industry and regulators to collect the necessary evidence to enable the safe use of these alternative methods in the marine environment. Once sufficient evidence is available, and on the advice of the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies, the Marine Management Organisation (as the regulatory authority) will be able to make licensing decisions around the use of such techniques.

The Environment Secretary recently met Joanna Lumley and the StopSeaBlasts Campaign, who advocate for the use of alternative UXO clearance methods, to discuss ways in which we can work together to reduce the impact that clearing unexploded bombs can have on marine mammals.