We've seen our fishing grounds slowly pinched from us by gradual expansion

Yarmouth Inshore Fishermen's Association

The number of licensed dredging grounds has risen from two or three in the mid-1950s to more than 70 today.

Secretary of Great Yarmouth Inshore Fishermen's Association Paul Lines, said: "They've taken all the top layers of the seabed away and when the fish come there's no food left for them."

"We've seen our fishing grounds slowly pinched from us by gradual expansion further eastwards.

"When dredging first started we lived with it by going further outside of the dredgers.

"But slowly they acquired more and more dredging areas to the point where we have to go 12 miles out to sea before we can get clear of them.

"And in the winter, that's not safe."

Dredging grounds very quickly recover and the marine life rapidly returns to them within almost three years

British Marine Aggregates Producers Association

Many local authorities along the east coast are concerned that dredging is speeding up coastal erosion.

Great Yarmouth has repeatedly objected to new dredging licences and the government has announced plans to introduce tighter controls.

But Andrew Bellamy, a spokesman for the British Marine Aggregates Producers Association - the trade association representing dredging companies - said: "Independent research has shown that the dredging grounds very quickly recover and the marine life rapidly returns to them within almost three years."

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