Environment Agency makes £6 million agreement with company responsible for Poole oil spill

The Environment Agency has made oil and gas company Perenco UK Ltd pay out £6.1m to put right the damage done to the Dorset environment by a major oil spill.

This includes £620,000 to impacted parties as well as £400,000 towards wildlife and access projects run by local bodies.

In agreeing to the sanction, which is known as an enforcement undertaking and can be used as an alternative to a prosecution, Perenco has also put in place robust measures to ensure that a pollution incident does not happen again.

Perenco made the offer following an Environment Agency investigation into the incident. The agency eventually accepted a revised offer made by the oil company.

The pollution took place in March 2023 when Perenco discovered oil leaking from a pipe carrying a mix of oil and water at Ower Bay in Poole Harbour. A breach of the pipe was caused as part of the pipe corroded much faster than checks indicated or was expected.

A significant amount of oil leaked into the Poole harbour area, which includes sensitive habitats and species such as seagrass and saltmarsh.

The £6.1m paid out by Perenco includes £2.6m on the initial incident response, £2.4m for clean-up and £115k for ecological surveys. They paid £620k direct to impacted parties, which included commercial seafood beds who were forced to close during the initial pollution assessment.

The Environment Agency accepted Perenco’s offer due to the significant costs the company had already spent fixing the environmental damage and the measures taken to prevent a future reoccurrence of the incident.

Environment Agency officer, Tom Fowler, said: “This commitment allows Perenco to put things right in a way that directly benefits the environment and local communities."

“We are pleased that the money will go towards worthwhile wildlife initiatives and the local harbour.”

Brian Bleese, Chief Executive of Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: “Poole Harbour is one of the UK’s most important places for wildlife and people."

“Dorset Wildlife Trust will use this funding to deliver a suite of high-impact conservation projects that improve water quality, restore wetlands, and support nature’s recovery across Poole Harbour and its wider catchment.”

Bob Irwin, Vice Chair of Trustees at The Friends of Dolphin, said:

“This money allows us to continue to take individuals with any disability (including those using wheelchairs) for free trips on our unique specialised boat to enjoy the sights and sounds of Poole Harbour, the second largest natural harbour in the world.”

Sandy Becker, founder of Wild Bird Rescue Dorset, said:

“As a small, volunteer run rescue, we are incredibly grateful for this support. This funding will make a genuine difference to the welfare of the birds in our care by helping us improve facilities, create safer recovery spaces, and strengthen our ongoing fundraising through our charity shop for the future.”

Captain Brian Murphy, Pool Harbour Commissioners’ Chief Executive, said:

“Poole Harbour is a highly designated, protected site of international and national importance. Poole Harbour Commissioners promote safe and sustainable use of the harbour.

“The funding, being directed towards conservation, improved access to the harbour and environmental initiatives, will deliver lasting benefits for Poole Harbour and the communities that use it for both business and leisure."