Concerns are growing among environmentalists about the dredging of seabeds on the south coast which could devastate eco-systems.

Marine industry firms are applying for licences to extract millions of tonnes of gravel from the seabed, which is a rich environment for sealife.

Marinet, a branch of Friends of the Earth, and the Shipwreck Heritage Centre in Hastings, are calling for greater monitoring of seabed dredging.

The Argus reported in 2000 the Shipwreck Heritage Centre was fighting to turn a wreck into a war grave to stop an aggregates firm plundering the seabed to extract gravel.

Gina Carrington, secretary of Marinet, said: "They have extracted everything they can off the eastern coast with disastrous effect. They are now moving to the eastern end of the English Channel and applying for licences to dredge near Hastings and in other places as if there is no tomorrow.

"We are very concerned and are liaising with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. We feel a proper environmental assessment needs to be made. The effects of this dredging needs to be monitored.

"The gravel on the seabed is a valuable habitat for spawning some species of fish and a rich environment for sealife on the whole and it is fairly scarce worldwide. Dredging needs to be regulated."