Charity volunteers have been forced to cancel a wildlife survey after raw sewage was pumped into the ocean off the coast of Margate.
The Shoresearch survey was due to take place on Friday 18th November 2022 on Fulsam Rock in Margate. However, conservationists at Kent Wildlife Trust had to stand volunteers down after a risk assessment deemed that the sewage discharge would have put the citizen scientists at risk.
The cancellation of the event was disappointing for organiser, Marine Conservationist Sherece Thompson of Kent Wildlife Trust who said: “There is a huge amount of work that goes into survey days and the data that the volunteers collect and collate is extremely important, however we simply could not risk people’s health and were forced to cancel.
‘The sewage discharge resulted in people being advised not to swim in the water with a warning appearing on the ‘Surfers Against Sewage’ app, and I had to consider the health risks if the event had pressed ahead, the worst-case scenario being a volunteer contracting hepatitis if they were to cut themselves whilst in contact with the water.
“This week I have received reports of dead fish washing up on Minnis Bay and I have been told of dogs falling ill after being walked there. To think our beaches are so polluted that we put our health at risk if we use them is devastating, and it will undoubtedly have consequences for the marine life that have no choice but to live there.
“This practice needs to stop, and I would ask people to visit our Defend Nature campaign page on our website and write to their local MP, we need laws in place to stop this from happening, so wildlife can thrive.”
Shoresearch is The Wildlife Trusts' national citizen science survey of the intertidal shore where the sea meets the land. It's a great way to explore the local area, learn more about the wildlife found there and add to our understanding of this important habitat.
Volunteers are trained to identify and record the wildlife on shores across the UK. The data collected by this project helps experts to monitor our fragile sea life and better understand the effects of pollution, climate change and invasive alien species. Shoresearch data has been key to designating many of our Marine Conservation Zones.
To learn more about the Defend Nature Campaign, please click here.