Seals need more protection from Torbay fuel spills, warn campaigners
When will this stop? That's the question environmental charities are asking following the latest fuel spill in Torbay after footage emerged of seals in Brixham harbour swimming in a spill a few days ago.
Last updated 16th Dec 2020
Greatest Hits Radio has been investigating how common fuel spills are and we've been told by the Tor Bay Harbour Authority there's usually around four minor spills a year - of five litres or less.
Duncan Kenny, from the Torbay-based Seal Project, said: "There's lots of activity at the moment because it's post pupping season and we've moved into breeding season.
"This is the time of year when Brixham has its busiest transient population of seals.
"This is where their numbers are highest, right now.
"Any fuel spill, or contaminant of the water, even if it's just passing through, if the seals are present they will surface in that and they will inhale.
"Parts of that fuel will enter into their bodies through their respiratory system. It can get into their lungs and cause fatalities.
"There's been a number of recorded cases where this has created fatalities."
The Tor Bay Harbour Authority says its operational staff are trained in counter-pollution response and the organisation holds a substantial quantity of response equipment - i.e absorbent pads or booms.
The authority also has an on-call contractor who can provide additional equipment and personnel if the clean up demands.
Bosses say they do investigate and record fuel leaks and there have been cases of fines and other enforcement action being taken - such as passing on clean-up costs or bye-law infringement action - but generally it is hard to identify where the spill originated from.
The harbour's web page has a reporting function and bosses say they encourage everybody to report any fuel spillages that they see.
Below is the full interview with Duncan Kenny:
For more about the harbour authority's latest refuelling arrangements click here
The Seal Project say they would like to see more preventative action considered to prevent further spills in the future.
For more about The Seal Project click here