MMO backs down on dredging
Shark Trust MD Paul Cox considers the issues around shark nets, asking if there are better ways to protect swimmers
MMO backs down on dredging
The Sussex Wildlife Trust is claiming victory in a legal battle over planned coastal dredging. The Trust had challenged a decision by the Marine Management Organisation( MMO) to allow Brighton Marina to dispose of material in the Beachy Head West Marine Conservation Zone.
The dredging was needed to keep the entrance to Brighton Marina navigable, but Henri Brocklebank, the Trust’ s Director of Conservation, said it would have meant one million tonnes of sediment being dumped over 10 years.“ It’ s 33,000 shipping containers worth of spoil- if that was on the South Downs everyone would lose it, but it’ s at sea. It’ s a really special, important, internationally rare habitat.”
An MMO spokesperson said:“ We notified the judge of our intention not to defend the judicial review on our decision to grant a marine licence for Brighton Marina Dredge and Disposal. This decision was based on one of the points raised by Sussex Wildlife Trust.”
Fragile species such as the short-snouted seahorse would have been impacted by the dredging
Can you make beaches‘ safe’?
Shark Trust MD Paul Cox considers the issues around shark nets, asking if there are better ways to protect swimmers
While we bask in the winter rains in the UK, it’ s summertime in the Southern Hemisphere and time to head for the beach. We all enjoy a day at the beach and a splash around in the surf. But, as we all know, in some parts of the world, this innocent activity comes with an element of risk. Incidents involving beachgoers and shark bites become high profile news events and serve to reinforce negative views of sharks, themselves driven by media and film narratives.
Countries like Australia and South Africa spend millions on mitigation measures in an attempt to make beaches‘ safe’ from sharks. Nets and drumlines, the most common tactic, are a constant source of conflict and debate between conservationists and politicians.
Far from being physical barriers to keep sharks away from the beach, these methods are put in place to capture sharks. And they’ re pretty unselective, catching( and killing) all sorts of other marine life in the process. The case against nets has been building for a number of years, and the evidence is pretty damning. But we have to respect the fact that these measures arose as a result of genuine public concern and a desire to reduce the incidence of bites, which can have devastating consequences.
There are options. Drone technology is increasingly being used to increase surveillance, enabling beach managers to monitor shark movements, proactively manage risks and close beaches if necessary. Just this month, the Guardian reported that the Government of Queensland announced that it would be rolling out more drone surveys after a study found that they were“ twice as effective as nets” in detecting sharks.
“ Drones provide a high-definition aerial view of a wide expanse of ocean, allowing the detection of sharks in realtime, whilst having negligible impact on the environment and non-target species,” the report said.
Yet, in Queensland, this doesn’ t seem to have prompted a change of heart on nets. The state has committed to continue the use of nets and drumlines to protect beaches. Conservationists are calling for a switch away from nets to more smart drumlines, which allow sharks to be tagged and released. These promise less bycatch but, in the end, there is no easy fix. Whatever method is adopted, there remains a risk.
In the eyes of politicians, people want safe beaches. But a recent survey carried out in Australia suggests they might have misjudged the public mood. The huge nationwide survey found that an overwhelming 85 percent of Australians said they do not believe governments can make beaches“ 100 percent safe” from sharks. The optimist in me thinks that this finding could point towards solutions where better monitoring, information and public engagement could lead us to a place where coexistence with sharks is understood and valued. www. sharktrust. org
Islands Lottery through the Jersey Community Foundation, will gather existing data and test different ways to monitor biodiversity.
Researcher Megan Newstead said:“ This coast is beautiful and vital for wildlife. I’ m excited that the community can get involved and help protect it.”
Fieldwork will take place depending on weather and tides, said Société Jersiaise, and local people were being invited to help collect data.
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