Countryfile, Chichester Harbour, oysters and GRP boats

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lampshuk

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Didn't see a thread on this already, so please re-direct this if I missed one.

I happened to watch Countryfile on Sunday morning. They did a "piece" on Chichester Harbour.

They highlighted the fact that oyster numbers were dwindling in recent years, and they interviewed a researcher who showed that the oysters were riddled with glass fibres.
(also that the population of oysters in CHI is 90% male, which indicates that poor nutrient availability prevents them from turning female)
They explained this while surrounded by mudbound GRP boats (mostly sailing boats) and the lady being interviewed said "well of course all these boats are made of glass fibre, but it also comes from furniture and other manmade items." (or words to that effect)

In typical lazy journalism style the presenter dropped the subject at that point, rather than spending 30 seconds or so trying to understand how glass fibres could make their way into the water. But the visual message was clear. Boats = glass-fibre = dead oysters

Now, I'm very skeptical that intact GRP boats could leak glass fibres, but I wonder if anyone on the forum has something more factual on the topic?

Just curious.
 
Short answer, no. And fully agree; I though it was bone lazy journalism.

They should have analysed the GRP and traced it to its source; which would more than likely be more than one, and probably very little to do with the yachts, unless somebody is "recycling" old vessels and not doing it properly and ensuring all waste is contained/managed.
 
Old Harry said:
PAR for the course with CF, with a following that has a 3 minute attention span
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As long as that? Just massive pubicity to someone's opinion that will now be constanly reported for years to come. No mention of alternative sources of plastic or how antifouling paints have become more acceptable to most marine life by being less poisonous.

Which ecologist is now going to want all boats banned from Chichester Harbour and other harbours?

On the opposite side of the coin there are new oyster beds being started in the River Stour and West Mersea on the East Coast - both with plenty of boats nearby.
 
Trident said:
Watching the boat yards at Emsworth and other places around the harbour grinding away at GRP it is easy to see how huge amount of GRP particles are ending up in the sea.
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Well, exactly - though I would have thought there are environmental protection laws that would constrain that.

And I dare say that neglected old GRP boats that are starting to break up could be leaking them as well, but I would have thought you would need quite a lot of movement to break loose significant amounts of glass.
 
As I understand it from the boatyards I've spoken to and worked at there are no laws covering sanding and grinding except for sanding antifoul

I've done lots of GRP repairs myself and of course always use a hoover to try and contain it but I know I must have put millions of particles of microplastic dust in to the air and some will come down in the sea. Its heartbreaking but without indoor facilities with air filters its impossible unless we give up using GRP boats etc. I think the time will have to come when all boat work must be done inside with filtered extraction which of course will mean that most boatyards close and most boat owners cant afford to get work done.
 
+1 --- I thought that getting professional work done would mean some kind of tent and dust extraction around my boat. I was dismayed that every particle of grinding and sanding dust went into the environment.

Perhaps many people naive to boating will also think that boat-building dust would be managed.

Wouldn't there be a rental market for tents and portable extraction? This could enable boatyards to make something back from us DIYers. I had considered building a tent for my (tiny) boat before discovering wet sanding. However, I would have gladly rented one in any case.
 
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I have worked in the boat trade since the early 80's In that time I have never worked in any boatyard with decent extraction, GRP repairs were done in the open or in what are basically barns & i have seen the stuff 4 inches thick on the floor, you try to sweep it up & bag it but mountains of it must escape & wash away with the ain, down the drain or down the slipway. Add all the antifoul pressure washed or scraped off, how much of that is recovered for safe disposal?
To be honest im not really surprised considering people have been grinding fibreglass for 60 years plus!
I also wonder how many blokes who didnt wear masks are now having lung trouble. Back in 84 I bought one of the Racal airstream powered respirators, I wore one out & bought another & wore that out too. Im now on my third & have enough spares to keep it going for years.
Out of all the guys i knew in the industry locally I was the only one who had one of these.
 
Glass fibre doesn't just come from boats.
Many other things are made of GRP.
GRP roofing sheets rot away in the sun.
Glass is used in cement and concrete
Loft insulation blowing in the wind.
Glass fibre packing tape is used once then chucked.
Many other industrial uses, many of which are short term and no recycling.
 
northwind said:
The issue is more likely due to the sewage outflows in the harbour, which will contain plastic waste.
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They should have started with the sewage works at the top of Thornham channel that always used to overflow every time it rained.

Just as well no one told CF about all the unexploded ammunition in the harbour, or that lady would have had kittens.

Pete
 
Hmm. Well, this is all rather alarming.
I must admit I've never done any significant GRP work but, like many others, have assumed that since it's known to be a horrible substance there would be regulations on industrial use. Keith66, I think you made a very wise investment there.

Having said that, I suppose I did cover my loft in 8" of GRP insulation armed with nothing more than a boiler suit, rubber gloves and a basic Screwfix mask. But that was only one project/exposure (which I am determined never to repeat). There do seem to be various types of portable dust extractors with varying degrees of cost, but all rely on being attached to a tool in some way. I would have thought that it would be possible to design something along the lines of the simple "pop up" festival tents to contain detritus. I guess it depends very much on the shape & access of where you are working.

If there was a "recent" drop-off in oyster numbers (another throwaway comment in the program) it may be possible to trace it to some change in conditions in the neighbourhood of the harbour, but as many point out, there are so many possible sources.

I've emailed CF asking for more information but no response beyond the usual holding reply.
 
IIRC Chichester Oysters were responsible for the death of a Bishop due to contamination by human waste in the harbour.

It was a long time ago mind............................

Just googled it and it was the Dean of Winchester and the Oysters were from Emsworth.
 
lampshuk said:
......

If there was a "recent" drop-off in oyster numbers (another throwaway comment in the program) it may be possible to trace it to some change in conditions in the neighbourhood of the harbour, but as many point out, there are so many possible sources.

I've emailed CF asking for more information but no response beyond the usual holding reply.
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The oysters are probably not getting the 'broad range of nutrients' since Souther Water spent a few million on 'improvements'.

I wouldn't stuff from any of the three harbours.
 
Sounded to me very like the seahorse argument. A recent sudden drop in numbers of wildlife blamed on boats that have been there in considerable numbers since long before most conservation experts were born!

Seems just as likely the drop is caused by too many conservationists!
 
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