Serious concerns expressed about adverse impact on Whitsand Bay, Cornwall, from MoD dredging

BBC News reports, 7th April 2014: “Environmental campaigners are calling for immediate action to protect coral found off the coast near Plymouth. They say thousands of tonnes of silt dredged from Devonport Dockyard is at risk of overwhelming rare pink sea-fans in Whitsand Bay. Silt dredged from the River Tamar to clear channels for warships at Devonport docks in Plymouth is being dumped in the bay. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) says the dredging is essential.

Millions of tonnes of silt has been dumped off Rame Head in Whitsand Bay over the years. A new application has been lodged by Ministry of Defence contractors for a two-year licence to deposit up to 337,000 tonnes of silt at the dump site.

Pink sea-fans are a rare and protected species

Campaigner Tony Steenhagen, who has written to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and Fisheries Minister George Eustice, said: “Pink sea fans were protected in Lyme Bay in Dorset when a large area was closed from dredging. What is the difference between Dorset and Cornwall?”
Pink Sea Fan Pink sea-fans are a rare and protected species

Marine biologist Dr Keith Hiscock, who has dived in the Whitsand Bay area, said: “Parts of the reef will have been completely submerged by silt now.”

The MoD says the dredging is essential to its work at the dockyard and is licensed by the MMO [Marine Management Organisation]. The MMO said it would take action if it received evidence that the dumping was having a significant effect on the pink sea-fans, but it was not considering further investigations.

Note: PINK SEA-FANS are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The pink sea-fan is a soft coral. It is related to tropical species, lives in areas of strong currents on rocky reefs below 10m deep and is most common in south-west England. It can grow up to 80cm high and 100cm across. Pink sea-fan colonies are extremely slow-growing and vulnerable to damage. The main threats to them are beam trawling, scallop dredging, and boat anchoring. Source: Natural England. For additional information, see Marinet’s “An Illustrated Guide to UK Marine Animals”.

BBC News also reported on 18th January 2014: “Silt is dredged from the River Tamar to clear channels for warships at Devonport docks in Plymouth. Critics say the silt is harming marine life and seawater quality where it is dumped in Whitsand Bay, Cornwall. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) says the dredging is essential to its work at the dockyard and is licensed by the Marine Management Organisation. Millions of tonnes of silt has been dumped off Rame Head in Whitsand Bay over the years.
More than 300 people joined a protest at Rame Head and called for the silt to be dumped further out to sea. Protest organiser Deb Hoskin, from nearby Millbrook, said: “We’ve had enough. This demonstration is a way for local people to say we want it stopped now. We care for the life in our seas and shores, for the beauty of our beaches and the enjoyment of the many visitors.” Environment Minister and Cornish MP George Eustice said he did not want silt dumping to affect a nearby Marine Conservation Zone. “I can understand local people’s frustrations and their concerns,” he said. “I will go back to officials and see if there is anything that can be done.” Conservative MP for South East Cornwall, Sheryll Murray, said: “The dredging is vital to maintain the dockyards at Plymouth upon which so many constituents’ jobs rely. What I want to see is a different site used for the dumping.”

Please do share this