ERM helps clients develop responsibly, efficiently and successfully, with our highly experienced marine scientists and development consultants through extensive knowledge of the marine environment and regulatory processes.
For activities ranging from the sustainable development of offshore renewables and oil & gas decommissioning, regional scale assessments for the marine mineral industry, the installation of submarine telecom cables to supporting Government R&D, ERM helps clients understand and manage their environmental and safety and social risks, to enable them to make effective decisions to safeguard the marine environment and society.
ERM recognises the importance of offshore developments for energy security and meeting net zero, while supporting sustainable development. Our experienced and highly qualified team can provide both strategic and technical advice in consideration of the potential impacts these developments have on the marine environment, as well as the biologically diverse and unique ecosystems that depend on it.
ERM’s marine technical expertise includes:
- Marine ecology and nature conservation (benthic, fish and shellfish, offshore ornithology, marine mammals and other megafauna, and plankton)
- Water and sediment quality
- Marine geophysics and geotechnics
- Marine archaeology
- Commercial Fisheries
- Marine data mapping, management, and Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
ERM’s Environmental & Social Impact Assessment (EIA) and marine specialists can provide an extensive range of services to support client’s needs, including:
- Marine feasibility, site selection, permitting and regulatory support, including guiding clients through applications for Marine Licenses, specific consents (e.g., Section 36 in the UK), and Development Consent Orders, as well as subsequent consent compliance work
- Development of supporting environmental reports and marine baseline studies
- Statutory nature conservation assessments and compliance
- Contractor Evaluation and Survey Management including the provision of Offshore Client Representatives and Consultants
- Marine habitat mapping and characterization
- Marine sediment management
- Hydrodynamic and coastal process modelling
- Offshore process safety and major hazards management
- Oil spill/thermal plume/chemical discharge modelling
- Underwater sound modelling
- Full range of studies: As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP), Best Available Techniques (BAT), Best Practicable Option Studies (BPEO).
- Planning and operational improvement processes such as Environmental Social Health Impact Assessment, environmental issues identification, management and monitoring plans and hazard identification.
- Stakeholder Engagement of Coastal communities including Fisheries Liaison Services including Offshore Fisheries Liaison (OFLO)
