Pollution of our waterways and seas has been much in the news recently and the television programme ‘Dirty Business’ has brought this to an even wider audience. The programme showed how heavy rainfall and inadequately maintained treatment systems have resulted in frequent pollution incidents. At the same time, policy changes regarding self-monitoring by water companies have meant there has been a dearth of action in relation to these. 

Estuaries have, for centuries, been under pressure as flat land and salt marsh is reclaimed for building and port facilities, taking away productive environments and reducing natural flood defences. In central London during the summer of 1858, hot weather exacerbated the smell of human and industrial waste in the Thames. This ‘Great Stink’ was the Dirty Business of the 19^th century and showed – or smelled – how estuaries had become open sewers. And still today it is estimated that up to 80% of all marine plastic waste finds its way into the sea from the land via our estuaries. 

Our estuary contains the remains of wooden hulks that once sailed across oceans or brought essential commodities like coal and building materials to coastal communities. They inspire memories of the past and, stripped of their fixtures and fittings, they do little harm unless they become a navigation hazard. Being constructed of natural material, the wood slowly decomposes back into the mud where they lie. 

It’s a different story for yachts manufactured from fibreglass in the 60s and 70s, that are now reaching the end of their lives and lie abandoned in estuaries all over the country. It costs around £1200 to ‘recycle’ a small fibreglass boat – though that is a euphemism as these vessels end up in landfill. Abandoned vessels leak oil and fluids into the environment and research has highlighted how, as the fibreglass breaks down into shards of microplastic, it enters the food chain and gets into the flesh of mussels, oysters, seagrass and algae which in turn will be eaten by fish. 

Currently these fibreglass vessels are treated like rubbish, but should they be considered hazardous waste? Without registration, owners cannot be tracked and the cost of disposal falls onto financially challenged local councils. In Cornwall a one-man charity raises money to clear these vessels from estuaries and remote creeks. 

Abandoned boats are an eyesore and pollution problem but cleaning up our estuaries also helps clean up the seas.