Dredging - a tourism boost or danger to the environment?
Ocean-going cruise liners could end up docking in a Cornish harbour, if dredging is given the okay. But environmental groups have grave concerns.
Cornwall Council is now being asked to support the plan to dredge Falmouth harbour - opening it up to ships that will bring thousands of tourists into the heart of the town.
Environmental groups say the project threatens the ecology of the sea bed - and want to see it protected.
Falmouth Harbour is always busy with fishing boats and yachts but soon they may have to make way for some much larger vessels. That is if plans to deepen the channel go ahead.
Plans to dredge this harbour have been on the cards since 2004 were first drawn up in 2004 and it's taken years to get to this point. The Harbour Commission here says dredging is absolutely essential if Falmouth wants to attract more visitors.
Businesspeople in the town also welcome the extra custom bigger ships would bring.
There are concerns about environmental impact dredging could have. A trial led by Plymouth University took place in 2012 - last night these results went on display.
Watch: How does dredging work?
The actual process of dredging is relatively simple. Sand and silt is removed from the sea bed - allowing bigger boats to access harbors. What makes this different is that the top layer of the sea bed is removed - and then relaid - after the layer below has been dredged.
There are concerns that marine life will be affected but Sian John, Director of Environment UK, believes that any ill-effects will be short-lived. She says,
"That will all return, quite quickly after the dredging has been completed so we can have both - we can have development of the port and a good ecological community afterwards".
It is a subject that has divided opinion in the town.
Watch what people of Falmouth think about the prospect of dredging
The decision now lies with the Government - and if the process is approved, the Harbour Commission will still have to submit an application to dredge.