Tuesday 02 June 2015
Open Lines Column (Guernsey Press) Enquiry:
I recently listened to the statement made on local radio regarding the banning of dogs from certain beaches during the summer months.
As a dog lover and keen ornithologist, I do understand the logic of keeping dogs away from wading and protected birds on the south coast.
Can someone from the Environment Department please then explain why permission has been granted to a commercial enterprise to ignore the signed warnings of falling rocks and signed warnings not to climb the cliffs at Petit Bot and allow paying groups to clamber over the base of the cliffs and jump into the water in wet suits and yellow climbing helmets while screaming and shouting within feet of the nesting and roosting areas of a number of protected birds, also disturbing the peace and tranquillity of the beach to all other users?
Environment Department Response:
Thank you for giving the Environment Department the opportunity to respond to this letter.
In the absence of any legislation or policy which prohibits or restricts this activity - known as coasteering - by commercial enterprises around the coast, the Department has issued a Code of Conduct, 'Give Wildlife a Chance', which has been widely circulated to the various operators who take people wildlife watching or coasteering/kayaking. The Code focuses on the need to act sensitively so that disturbance to sea birds and marine mammals is minimised at all times but with particularly emphasis on the need to take greater care to keep distance during the breeding season. It is an offence for anyone to deliberately disturb any wild bird on a nest, or their eggs or any young birds in a nest.
The Department along with respected local ornithologists have met with the outdoor activity organisers to ensure they are aware of those sites which are most sensitive in respect of bird breeding on the south coast cliffs and of the Department's stated concern that these sites should not be used for coasteering during the breeding season.
Whilst the Department would agree this is not a wholly desirable situation there has been an attempt to strike a balance so that commercial enterprises may use Petit Bot for coasteering at this time of year but do not use other more sensitive parts of the coast.
It is acknowledged that a number of beaches have traditionally had recreational activities where some level of noise is reasonable and to be expected as people enjoy themselves, especially during the height of the season. However, if the writer considers that there is excessive noise disturbance as a result of any specific activity taking place regularly we would ask that they contact the Environment Department directly.
Contact Information:
Environmental Services Unit
Environment Department
Tel: 717200
