The Intro
Pollution is apparent in every corner of the globe; none more so than the marine environment and it goes far beyond the well documented plastic problem. Pollution can come in all forms and not just from generic waste from packaging. An issue close to me on a personal level for various reasons is the dumping of dredged silt from the River Tamar outside Whitsand Bay, which is a designated marine conservation zone. This is a problem many local residents have been concerned about for numerous years now.
I have spent countless and endless summers throughout my life on this wonderful stretch of beach for as long as I can remember. The same applies for my family who also grew up in the area, making it not just a special place to me, but also a very special place to them, as well as the many proud locals who will only too willingly tell you how much the area means to them and often share a friendly story. The idea of Whitsand Bay’s beauty being tainted by anthropogenic actions is something I personally find very hard to get my head around. Growing up in the area and experiencing the wonders that Whitsand Bay has to offer daily has been a main instigator in my decision to study Marine Conservation at Cornwall College, Newquay and to pursue a career in marine conservation.
©Tonny Steenhagen
About Whitsand Bay
Whitsand Bay resides on the Rame Peninsula which is also known as ‘Cornwall’s forgotten corner’ and even with tourism increasing in Cornwall it still remains relatively forgotten and off the tourist’s radar. With the exception of the small number of chalets located on its towering cliffs, it’s still in a relatively untouched and pristine condition; something that the waters offshore simply aren’t. The beauty of this coastline is viewed by many as being extremely contrasted by the dumping of dredged silt from the Tamar.
A quote that sticks in my mind is from Tonny Steenhagen; a local resident and campaigner for ‘stop dumping in Whitsand Bay’
‘to put it into perspective, imagine Buckingham Palace with a big pile of rubbish in front of it, it doesn’t sit well, Whitsand Bay is a bit like Buckingham Palace, the only difference is the rubbish is underwater so you can’t see it’.
I found this quote rather powerful as well as clever as it uses an iconic beautiful building so a wide variety of people can relate to it, but also highlights how unaware people are of the pollution present and how ‘out of sight, out of mind’ is apparent in this case.
The coast of the Rame Peninsula is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and this isn’t just in the literal sense but also designated in recognition of its national importance, by Natural England.[1] Not only is it an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty but also a Site of Special Scientific Interest, noted for its geological as well as biological interest.[2] Furthermore, it has a designated marine conservation zone stretching from Rame Head through to Looe Bay (covering 52km2) that was put in place in 2013 which protects species such as the pink sea fan and stalked jellyfish, as well as protecting important habitats and ecosystems such as seagrass.[3] From reading this paragraph alone I’m sure you will have found that it is blatantly apparent that Whitsand Bay is an astonishing part of the natural world that everyone should enjoy whilst doing their upmost to preserve and protect, and not to taint and threaten the habitats and wildlife that reside there.
Issues and the journey so far…
A reported 60million tonne of silt has been dumped in the area over the last 30 years and this is mostly from the Tamar to allow shipping to occur in the area.[4] The dredging cannot be avoided, it has to be done to allow shipping, the problem occurs and lies with where it is being dumped, this is something that many hope to be reconsidered and changed. The problems with the silt being dumped in the area are that it could contain harmful substances such as TBT found in anti-fouling paint used heavily in the 80’s. Not only this, the silt settles on marine organisms and can entrap and suffocate them as well as refraining photosynthetic organisms from accessing the precious light they need to grow and survive.[5] Even more alarming, increased siltation has been suggested to have taken its role in the death of two experience divers exploring the HMS Scylla that was sunk in 2003 to form an artificial reef. However, a report from Institute of Estuarine & Coastal Studies (IECS) reveals that due to the hydrodynamics of Whitsand Bay in relation to the dumping site that no dredged material will find its way into the bay and will be exported out to sea, meaning that the dredging may not have played any role in the divers tragic deaths as initially suggested.[6] The dilemma of increased siltation around the Scylla could be a direct result of the Scylla itself as the submerged object creates reduced flow around itself which allows fine material to settle rather than be exported. Something else that should be noted is that the silt that does get deposited and settles, as said before, can be extremely dangerous to most marine life, yet can actually create a new habitat and support other marine life.
June 2010 – A demonstration appropriately named ‘Hands Across the Beach’ was organised with hundreds of people concerned about the dredging action attending. However, unfortunately a three-year license was issued, allowing dredged spoil to carry on being deposited.[7]
©Western Morning News
November 2013 – A marine conservation zone is designated for Whitsand Bay protecting rare species and habitats.[3] A small victory?
January 2014 – The pouring rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of even more locals once again protesting at Rame Head, however the outcome of the protest could. A new license was granted in March 2014 to dump a further 367’000 tonnes of silt over a three-year period just 800m from the newly recognised marine conservation zone.[7]
©Rame Peninsula Beach Care
April 2014 – A dredging company was caught breaching its license conditions with the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), they were given a formal warning and then a £40,000 fine which many locals found wasn’t a harsh enough punishment.[8] Fundraising events by the passionate locals helped raise over £3,000 to help pay for a legal challenge in the High Court in London with the help of a marine consultant. A judicial review was granted with the judge noting ‘substantial issues’.[9]
January 2015 – The Judicial Review procedure was abandoned by the MMO and the license issued in March 2013 was quashed, the MMO also announced a review of all the licensed dumpsites around the UK will be conducted.[9] This was a bright result in a seamlessly gloomy process for the locals; hopefully work from local NGO’s such as Rame Peninsula Beach Care and increased talks with stakeholders such as Natural England and the MMO it will result in Whitsand Bay becoming dump free.
Special thanks to:
Rame Peninsula Beach Care
Dave Peake
Deb Hoskin
Tonny Steenhagen
And the hundreds of locals who have given up their time and continue to do so in order to protect Whitsand Bay.
By Jay Boyle.
References
- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (No Author) (2015). Available at: http://www.cornwallaonb.org.uk/ramehead/ (Accessed 23 February 2016).
- SSSI (No Author) (2015). Available at: http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/Science/natural/NA_HAbDetails.asp?Name=Start+Point+to+Lands+End&N=112&H=39 (Accessed 23 February 2016).
- Marine Conservation Zone (No Author) (2013). Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/marine-conservation-zone-2013-designation-whitsand-and-looe-bay (Accessed 24 February 2016).
- Silt Dredged (No Author) (2010). Available at:http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/technical/?cid=nrcs143_014201 (Accessed 23 February 2016).
- Castro, J., Reckendorf, F. (1995). Effects of Sediment on the Aquatic Environment. Available at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/technical/?cid=nrcs143_014201 (Accessed 27 February 2016).
- Elliott, M., Mazik, K. (2011). Rame Head Environmental Impact study: Review of Evidence. Hull: Institute of Estuarine & Coastal Studies.
- 7. New License (No Author) (2015). Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-30916346 (Accessed 24 February 2016).
- Dredging Company Fined (No Author) (2014). Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34054758 (Accessed 23 February 2016).
- Judicial Review (No Author) (2014). Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/future-of-dredging-at-her-majestys-naval-base-devonport (Accessed 26 February 2016).
Media
Rame Peninsula Beach Care (2014). Available at: http://www.ramepbc.org/home/ (Accessed 28 February 2016).
Steenhagen, T. (No Date). Strength in numbers. Available at: http://www.ramepbc.org/home/ (Accessed 27 February 2016).
Western Morning News (2015). Available at: http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Victory-claimed-marine-watchdog-stops-dumping/story-25899379-detail/story.html (Accessed 28 February 2016).
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