Threat to our way of life.

Tomahawk

Tomahawk

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I spent today at a Local Plan Examination looking at new housing supply. Of itself not much to see, except that one of the issues discussed was the subject of RAMS Recreational Amelioration Mitigation Strategy being prepared to reduce the so called impact of water leisure on wildlife.

It is clear these new strategies are being prepared by the local councils along the Essex Coast. It is likely these strategies will start from the basis that anyone who owns anything that floats is a nuisance and must be restricted. English Nature and Natural England appear to be leading the charge against us. Doubtless the local version of SHT will try and get into the act and try and impose their agenda on everyone else.

I think we need to act in unison to offer a counter approach to bug huggers and other professional hobby lobbies.. A sort of Eastern BORG if you like. Thoughts?
 
I haven't hugged a bug lately but feel that I have mixed interests. It might make more sense if they prevented developers from installing launching-ramps in our rivers for anything larger than kayaks.

I don't think that yachting activity has much impact on wildlife, partly because much of it only arrives for the winter. Our seals don't seem to mind us much, but there is obviously a problem with shore-nesting birds, especially the beautiful Little Terns. I could accept a sensible limit to our intrusion, providing it was based on real potential problems, but not so long as jet-skis and speedboats are free to ponce around up and down rivers like the Colne with little risk of prosecution.
 
Tomahawk said:
I spent today at a Local Plan Examination looking at new housing supply. Of itself not much to see, except that one of the issues discussed was the subject of RAMS Recreational Amelioration Mitigation Strategy being prepared to reduce the so called impact of water leisure on wildlife.

It is clear these new strategies are being prepared by the local councils along the Essex Coast. It is likely these strategies will start from the basis that anyone who owns anything that floats is a nuisance and must be restricted. English Nature and Natural England appear to be leading the charge against us. Doubtless the local version of SHT will try and get into the act and try and impose their agenda on everyone else.

I think we need to act in unison to offer a counter approach to bug huggers and other professional hobby lobbies.. A sort of Eastern BORG if you like. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
This is a serious subject. When you say local councils are you talking County, District or Town/Parish? I am a councillor on Aldeburgh Town Council and this has not been brought to my attention. Will keep a good look out.
Personally I just don't get the so called bug huggers etc. I have sailed locally for over 30 years and its the increase of twitchers and gawpers that has had an adverse effect on wildlife not boats. Maybe I have got this wrong and will investigate further but I suggest people keep alert to such people.
 
Tomahawk said:
I spent today at a Local Plan Examination looking at new housing supply. Of itself not much to see, except that one of the issues discussed was the subject of RAMS Recreational Amelioration Mitigation Strategy being prepared to reduce the so called impact of water leisure on wildlife.

It is clear these new strategies are being prepared by the local councils along the Essex Coast. It is likely these strategies will start from the basis that anyone who owns anything that floats is a nuisance and must be restricted. English Nature and Natural England appear to be leading the charge against us. Doubtless the local version of SHT will try and get into the act and try and impose their agenda on everyone else.

I think we need to act in unison to offer a counter approach to bug huggers and other professional hobby lobbies.. A sort of Eastern BORG if you like. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

You always seem to take a negative view of everything mate.

You are asking for support based on no facts whatever .
 
Just gobsmacked that someone could come up with “ Recreational Amelioration Mitigation Strategy”. Is that about ameliorating the recreation or mitigating the amelioration of the recreation or recreating a strategy etc. etc?
 
Lots of inland sailing clubs are located on reservoirs and lakes in nature reserves. Powered vessels tend to be banned from these areas to reduce pollution and minimise habitat disturbance. If this were the route being proposed what's not to like? Restrict water skiing and jet skis and so on to less sensitive areas = more room, less wake and more peace and quiet for sailers:-)
 
Humm not sure if it's relevant but down here on the Exe there has been or will be a sort of exclusion zone for activities that are deemed to interfere with wild life on a large area bounded by the Exe and Dawlish Warren nature reserve. Strange that almost all the designated area is saltings and mud plus sand over which boats would be restricted by the lack of navigable water ?
 
Rhoda Rose said:
Lots of inland sailing clubs are located on reservoirs and lakes in nature reserves. Powered vessels tend to be banned from these areas to reduce pollution and minimise habitat disturbance. If this were the route being proposed what's not to like? Restrict water skiing and jet skis and so on to less sensitive areas = more room, less wake and more peace and quiet for sailers:-)
Click to expand...

When will people learn that all boaters need to stick together
 
All the nature huggers seem to forget that humans are part of nature and the natural world as well as the other creatures.
 
Tomahawk said:
I spent today at a Local Plan Examination looking at new housing supply. Of itself not much to see, except that one of the issues discussed was the subject of RAMS Recreational Amelioration Mitigation Strategy being prepared to reduce the so called impact of water leisure on wildlife.

It is clear these new strategies are being prepared by the local councils along the Essex Coast. It is likely these strategies will start from the basis that anyone who owns anything that floats is a nuisance and must be restricted. English Nature and Natural England appear to be leading the charge against us. Doubtless the local version of SHT will try and get into the act and try and impose their agenda on everyone else.

I think we need to act in unison to offer a counter approach to bug huggers and other professional hobby lobbies.. A sort of Eastern BORG if you like. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Checking with google for "Recreational Amelioration Mitigation Strategy" turns up no direct matches.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?ei=......0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.0.0....0.TjyU8n6vgaY

Are you sure that is the correct wording? If you are then this is the start of a new ecological requirements.

Personally I cannot see how sailing is affecting wildlife. The only things that all boaters could have any effect would be antifouling and human body waste. Yes sailing have small engines, but have a very minor potential effect. Large motor boats, speedboats and jet skis are completely different and would probably cause 80-90% of all effects by boats. The effects could be oil based, high speed propeller rotation, wash on shorelines and noise based. BUT how big are these effects? Most boaters are very aware of the waters we use and try to have no effect on the water and marine life.
 
These strategies are being prepared at the present. So as yet there is nothing to show on the public domain as they are still in draft on council staff internal systems.

Yes they are part of ecological requirements.

I suspect the impact will start with no anchoring zones... then progress to excluding areas from navigation... to protect birds.. then restrictions on boat yards... and certainly orohibiting any new marine facilities.
 
I'm with you on this Chris but we need to know facts, not speculation and hearsay

Which council(s)?

Under what powers? *

What is being proposed?

How will it be enforced?

Will do for starters!

As I see it, other than pushing for any information that can be extracted, all that can be done at this stage is to keep watching for information coming into the public domain
 
I have this before ...

One day I went on board (on our swinging mooring in the creek). It was a very pleasant day with sun but little wind. With the lack of wind I dumped the idea of sailing and I made a cup of tea and sat in the cockpit sitting thinking and reflecting. The sounds of the Curlews and Oyster Catchers was enchanting and I dallied for a little while: then all of a sudden I got jogged out of my reflection by the sudden absence of bird singing and calling. I looked around and saw on the saltings there was a bird watcher - he was obvious, binoc's and camera - he is on the RSPB controlled land. He sat for 15 minutes or so but there was no bird song or calls. Then he went away. Within five minutes, the Curlews started calling and the Oyster Catchers started Gclinking (or what they do). A yacht slipped her mooring a couple along and trundled towards the River (technically its a Ria) and I saw the Curlews and Oyster Catchers remained on the foreshore - albeit the Egrets took flight.
 
I was taught, back in the 1960’s, that we who mess about in boats should be careful never to interfere with those who use the sea as their way of life, be they professional mariners or fishermen.

I don’t think sailing is “a way of life”; it’s a hobby, sport or recreation.

Living in the rivers creeks and saltings that we love most certainly is the “ way of life” of the birds and the marine life. They have nowhere else to go.

The “wilderness” quality of our local waters is what makes them so attractive both to us and to our friends from Holland and Belgium; their waters are too “domesticated”.

I would support sensible restrictions - we have some now - on anchoring, landing, etc if that preserves the wildlife which is a part of our fun.
 
Rhoda Rose said:
Lots of inland sailing clubs are located on reservoirs and lakes in nature reserves. Powered vessels tend to be banned from these areas to reduce pollution and minimise habitat disturbance. If this were the route being proposed what's not to like? Restrict water skiing and jet skis and so on to less sensitive areas = more room, less wake and more peace and quiet for sailers:-)
Click to expand...

What a shame that there is still the attitude from a minority of people of 'them and us'. We all use the water so any plans could affect us all. So as water users we should all stick together.
 
tillergirl said:
I have this before ...

One day I went on board (on our swinging mooring in the creek). It was a very pleasant day with sun but little wind. With the lack of wind I dumped the idea of sailing and I made a cup of tea and sat in the cockpit sitting thinking and reflecting. The sounds of the Curlews and Oyster Catchers was enchanting and I dallied for a little while: then all of a sudden I got jogged out of my reflection by the sudden absence of bird singing and calling. I looked around and saw on the saltings there was a bird watcher - he was obvious, binoc's and camera - he is on the RSPB controlled land. He sat for 15 minutes or so but there was no bird song or calls. Then he went away. Within five minutes, the Curlews started calling and the Oyster Catchers started Gclinking (or what they do). A yacht slipped her mooring a couple along and trundled towards the River (technically its a Ria) and I saw the Curlews and Oyster Catchers remained on the foreshore - albeit the Egrets took flight.
Click to expand...

He was obviously not a very effective bird-watcher! I'm not a twitcher, but I do go out with my binoculars or telescope from time to time, sometimes on reserves and sometimes at places of my choosing. I try to wear drab clothing but nevertheless I am aware that I disturb some birds. This is less of a problem in winter when birds are eager to feed, some of the smaller ones having to eat half their body weight daily to stay alive. Different species react differently. I can usually get within 15 yards of feeding godwits on the Colne but sometimes redshank will fly off making a public announcement from fifty yards away. At Titchmarsh it is an open dyke, but birds in the creek don't seem to notice me from 50 yds or more, unless someone comes by walking a dog.

When we sit on our boats we are effectively in hides and don't generally disturb birds, or seals, by our presence, but fast-moving craft are a different matter. I see in my paper today that they have lost baby seals in Norfolk from people taking selfies near the pups, who get abandoned. I'm afraid there is no limit to human stupidity, so some element of control is sometimes necessary.
 
johnalison said:
He was obviously not a very effective bird-watcher! I'm not a twitcher, but I do go out with my binoculars or telescope from time to time, sometimes on reserves and sometimes at places of my choosing. I try to wear drab clothing but nevertheless I am aware that I disturb some birds. This is less of a problem in winter when birds are eager to feed, some of the smaller ones having to eat half their body weight daily to stay alive. Different species react differently. I can usually get within 15 yards of feeding godwits on the Colne but sometimes redshank will fly off making a public announcement from fifty yards away. At Titchmarsh it is an open dyke, but birds in the creek don't seem to notice me from 50 yds or more, unless someone comes by walking a dog.

When we sit on our boats we are effectively in hides and don't generally disturb birds, or seals, by our presence, but fast-moving craft are a different matter. I see in my paper today that they have lost baby seals in Norfolk from people taking selfies near the pups, who get abandoned. I'm afraid there is no limit to human stupidity, so some element of control is sometimes necessary.
Click to expand...

+1.
 
johnalison said:
He was obviously not a very effective bird-watcher! I'm not a twitcher, but I do go out with my binoculars or telescope from time to time, sometimes on reserves and sometimes at places of my choosing. I try to wear drab clothing but nevertheless I am aware that I disturb some birds. This is less of a problem in winter when birds are eager to feed, some of the smaller ones having to eat half their body weight daily to stay alive. Different species react differently. I can usually get within 15 yards of feeding godwits on the Colne but sometimes redshank will fly off making a public announcement from fifty yards away. At Titchmarsh it is an open dyke, but birds in the creek don't seem to notice me from 50 yds or more, unless someone comes by walking a dog.

When we sit on our boats we are effectively in hides and don't generally disturb birds, or seals, by our presence, but fast-moving craft are a different matter. I see in my paper today that they have lost baby seals in Norfolk from people taking selfies near the pups, who get abandoned. I'm afraid there is no limit to human stupidity, so some element of control is sometimes necessary.
Click to expand...

+1
 
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