Harbour team's warning to dog walkers after diesel spills into water
"I urge residents and dog walkers to take extra care when doing their daily exercise until the residual oil has completely degraded"
AN OIL spill from a fishing boat was brought under control by experts from the Salcombe Harbour Team.
The South Hams council team was called to Batson Fish Quay in the early hours of February 2 and found a quantity of red diesel in the water.
They put their Oil Spill Contingency Plan into action, placing booms around the leaking boat to make sure the spill was quickly contained and to stop oil spreading to sensitive estuary areas.
The council says that although there was still an oily sheen over the water, there was little sign of pollution on the shoreline apart from some diesel against the western shore of Snapes Point.
It is expected to remain on the water and will be broken down through natural degradation, said a council spokesman.
Cllr Julian Brazil, who chairs the Salcombe Harbour Board, said: “I’m very thankful to the harbour team for their quick actions which has avoided a more serious pollution incident in the estuary and harbour.
“The team train for these unfortunate possibilities and it this training that has today paid dividends.
“In the meantime, I urge residents and dog walkers to take extra care when doing their daily exercise until the residual oil has completely degraded.”
The spokesman said that water conditions prevented the recovery of some remaining oil, and although this would break down it may still present a hazard.
As a temporary precaution, dog walkers were being advised to avoid the affected shoreline. Walkers should take extra care to wash their hands before eating, and no wild shellfish should be gathered from the shore.
Nigel Mortimer, South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’s estuaries officer, said: “Diesel is a complex cocktail of chemicals that are quite toxic to any aquatic environment but unfortunately accidents do happen and the harbour team have a contingency plan, the equipment and training all in place and have done their very best to minimise the impact of this spill.”
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