Port abandons dredging plans near protected area

Plans to dump dredged sediment near a protected area for birds in a busy Northern Ireland port have been dropped due to its potential environmental impacts.

Warrenpoint Harbour, the second largest port in Northern Ireland, was considering disposing dredged sediment in the mouth of Carlingford Lough – 500m outside the boundary of a special protection area (SPA) for birds, designated under the EU Birds Directive.