Marine Connection has been working with and supporting the Stop Sea Blasts campaign, launched November 2020 to raise awareness about whales, dolphins, and other marine life being injured/killed by the detonation of unexploded explosives such as bombs, left undetonated in British waters following the two World Wars – such devices must be safely cleared before construction of structures like wind farms.
Marine Connection co-founder Liz Sandeman recently joined Joanna Lumley and others from the Stop Sea Blasts team at an event outside the UK Parliament in London, to meet and thank MPs and peers who have been supportive of the campaign. The team accompanied by MP Lisa Cameron, later handed in a 120,000-signature petition to Downing Street supporting less harmful disposal of munitions, however, earlier on the day had received good news as the UK Government published a policy paper addressing the campaign issue entitled Marine environment: unexploded ordnance clearance joint interim position statement on its website, stating they supported the use of “lower noise alternatives” in place of what it calls “high order detonation”, as it recognises that marine species can be injured and/or killed by the sound from blasts.
Liz Sandeman comments “In the Scottish Highlands in 2011, 19 long-finned pilot whales died after they became stranded following bomb disposal operations so this latest announcement by the Government is a positive step forward”. Also welcoming the statement, Ms Lumley, speaking as part of the Stop Sea Blasts campaign, said she was “thrilled” and described it as a “wonderful day”.
