Marine litter can undermine the psychological benefits of coastal environments, a study has shown.
The beneficial effects of the blue environment to human health and well-being are well documented, but there has been little research into how the growing global issue of marine litter might negate them.
To measure this, Plymouth University secured funding from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to assess public reaction to the differing conditions of coastlines.
It’s all in the view. Luscombe Maye Estate Agency reveals that South West waterside properties are continuing to dominate the region’s property market, selling on average up to one month faster than those in urban or inland locations, according to its sales data from the past year.
Experts at Luscombe Maye state that both quantity and quality of a sea view play a vital part in the lure of South West waterside properties, potentially adding between £50,000 and £200,000 to a property’s value.
Direct beach access, picture windows, private balconies and patios are just some of...
Work on the new £1 million Mamhead Slipway in Exmouth is now planned to start in spring 2016, rather than later this year to avoid impacting on the migrating birds which spend the winter on the River Exe.
The Exe is home to thousands of birds which arrive in the autumn from the Arctic regions and spend the winter here before returning north in the spring. Because of the vital role that the estuary plays in the survival of these bird species it is designated as a Special Protection Area, and this limits activities which could affect their survival.
“Stay safe in the water” is the message that East Devon District Council is promoting with its Water Safety Day, which is taking place at Beach Gardens (opposite Exmouth Pavilion) in Exmouth, on Sunday 5 July, from 10am to 4pm. Entry is free.
The event, which also involves local water sports companies, clubs and charities, aims to raise awareness of the potential risks involved in water sports, whether at sea or on inland waters, and to get people thinking about keeping safe while having fun.
Throughout the day there will be a number of informative presentations,...
Scientists in Cornwall are making a final appeal for people to take part in research that will shed light on the health effects of marine pollution.
To help them assess the health risks that ocean-goers might face, the researchers want to compare the health of people who venture into the waves with those who stay firmly on shore.
The University of Exeter Medical School is working with Surfers Against Sewage to conduct the study, with the final phase starting on Monday 13th April. They are asking adults living in England and Wales to respond to a short online survey,...
A £659,000 project to deliver even cleaner seas off Teignmouth gets under way today.
South West Water will be constructing a 500 cubic metre underground storage tank in Teignmouth station car park.
This additional storm water storage capacity will reduce the number of discharges from the sewerage network during extremely wet weather. The project is designed to improve bathing water quality at Teignmouth ahead of the European Union's revised Bathing Water Directive, which comes into effect in 2015.
Senior Project Manager Mike Court said: "This represents a major...
South West Water's award-winning bathing water quality website BeachLive - www.beachlive.co.uk - has gone live, ready for the start of the bathing water season on 15 May.
The website features 45 Blue Flag and popular beaches across the region, with live water quality updates from 40.
Launched in 2011 in partnership with the Environment Agency, Surfers Against Sewage, tourism leaders and beach managers, BeachLive gives users bathing water quality information based on monitoring data from South West Water's sewerage network until the end of the official bathing season in...
Devon and Cornwall Police, together with Her Majesty’s Coastguard , are appealing to local residents and visitors to the region not to enter the sea during the bad weather.
This follows two incidents over the past two days where people who have gone swimming in the sea in rough conditions have either drowned or been reported missing.
A police spokesperson said: “There are people who enjoy swimming in all weathers as well as those who may underestimate the danger a rough sea can pose. During the current bad weather, we would appeal to everyone to use common sense and not put...
A new study offers an explanation for the extraordinary run of wet summers experienced by Britain and northwest Europe between 2007 and 2012. The study found that loss of Arctic sea ice shifts the jet stream further south than normal resulting in increased rain during the summer in northwest Europe.
Dr James Screen from the University of Exeter used a computer model to investigate how the dramatic retreat of Arctic sea ice influences the European summer climate. He found that the pattern of rainfall predicted by the model closely resembles the rainfall pattern of recent summers....
Wildlife charities have welcomed the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) swift action to ban ships across the world from discharging all forms of high viscosity polyisobutylene (PIB) into the sea during tank cleaning operations. PIB was the chemical responsible for the deaths of over 4000 seabirds on the south west coast earlier this year.
The tragedy, the largest marine pollution incident of its kind in the region since Torrey Canyon, shocked thousands of people.
At a meeting of the IMO’s working group on the Evaluation of Safety and Pollution Hazards of Chemicals...
