Cornwall beachgoers could be harming marine wildlife

Here in Cornwall, we're extremely proud of our coastline.

Our stunning shores, sandy beaches and coastal paths attract millions of visitors every year.

This brings an economic boost to local communities, and alongside the growth of staycations we have seen a rise in people enjoying activities on or near the water, such as paddleboarding, kayaking and jet skiing, as well as wildlife tours or even wild swimming in more remote areas.

This has led to a rise in reports of marine wildlife disturbance as these activities have the potential to disturb marine wildlife, leading to behaviour changes from what would normally be seen in wild animals.

Devon and Cornwall Police are therefore pushing Operation Seabird to keep marine wildlife safe.

It aims to address the issue of wildlife disturbance through education.

The Rural Affairs team at Devon & Cornwall Police are teaming up with the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to raise awareness about the importance of watching wildlife responsibly.

We know that the impacts of human activity and disturbance on marine wildlife can be immediately noticeable, for instance through obvious changes in behaviour. However, there may also be more subtle or long-term impacts, including changes to feeding, nesting, socialising or breeding behaviours.

On land, ground nesting birds may often be disturbed by people walking close to their nests. While this may cause the mother birds to flee the nest, which is an obvious and immediate response, this could have longer term impacts, such as chick predation or the mother’s energy reserves being depleted, which are not immediately noticeable.

At sea, vulnerable or endangered species of marine mammals may be deterred from accessing vital food sources and feeding in an area due to the noise and impact of watercraft.

PC Skinner from The Rural Affairs team at Devon & Cornwall Police said: "operation Seabird's been set up in partnership with the marine management organisation, the police and partner agencies and charities to raise awareness of, specifically marine mammals, their habitats and the situation is that they live in the beaches, the coastlines that they use.

"And put our engagement and make sure that we as locals and people coming into the area are looking after the wildlife as appropriate.

"Some of the things that we find that are being reported are getting too close to the animals, so getting too close to seals. Not only does it put the person involved at risk, but it puts the animal at risk as well, puts them at risk of injury and also stresses the animals out.

"Going too close to whales when they're out bathing, or if they're swimming, getting too close to them, following them, and even people that try and touch them or get selfies and things like that.

"it is disrupting their natural habitats and disturbing their natural behaviours."