On the 16th November 2022, BeachPeople (an ocean sports club based near Sandbanks in Dorset) raised the following question at the Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole (BCP) monthly cabinet meeting:
Following a recent study in Chichester Harbour it was found that derelict glass fibre boats do not biodegrade; rather they degrade into strands that can cause cancer in aquatic organisms and become part of the food chain in the form of microplastics. Would BCP support BeachPeople's second campaign, called BADBOATS, by assisting either with the collection of, or the disposal of, the derelict glass fibre boats sunk and beached around Poole Harbour? BeachPeople intend to work with BCP and PHC to effect a permanent solution to this problem, prevention being better than cure. For more info please see: https://beachpeople.club/index.php/campaigns/derelict-boats
by BeachPeople.club
The question was answered by Conservative councillor Mark Anderson:
I would like to Thank [BeachPeople] for his question and I'm glad the work we have done together on Kite beach is coming to fruition.
The short answer is a qualified YES, we are very keen to support the campaign in relation to sunken boats in the Harbour as we agree with [..] BeachPeople that these are an ecological and environmental hazard and need to be removed. Those areas of the shoreline that is our land and used by us, we will work with the BeachPeople to develop a method for removal, this includes the greenspaces controlled by Environment, and beaches controlled by Destination and Culture. However, there are areas which whilst council land is leased to other users and we may not be able to assist with.
by Conservative Coucillor Mark Anderson