Call to protect sea life amid bomb disposal
Scottish MPS have joined calls for the UK government to tighten regulations to ensure offshore wind farm developers dispose of unexploded mines and bombs littering the seabed in a way that doesn’t harm marine wildlife such as dolphins, whales and porpoises.
Estimates suggest there are around 100,000 tonnes of explosives in the seas surrounding the UK, many of the devices left over from the Second World War.
Though the explosives have lain untouched for many decades, they are increasingly posing problems for developers scoping sites for new offshore energy projects.
The most common method of disposal is to detonate devices where they sit.
But blasts cause major shockwaves that can travel many miles underwater, causing harm to sea creatures, as well as releasing toxins and chemical waste into the water that can impact biodiversity.
A UK government report into the beaching and death of 19 pilot whales off the north coast of Scotland in 2011 was most likely caused by noise from the detonation of submerged bombs.
A debate was held at Westminster, in response to a request from the SNP’S John Nicolson.
The Ochil and South Perthshire MP has called for a modern technique known as loworder deflagration, which could be “several hundred times quieter”, to be used in place of traditional detonation.
He said: “These explosions will kill any sea life nearby.
“If they do not die instantly, the pressure wave causes traumatic harm, such as lesions, haemorrhages and decompression sickness.
“Marine biologists tell us that
even if they survive the initial blasts, these can deafen aquatic mammals such as whales, porpoises and dolphins.
“Without hearing, they cannot communicate or navigate, leading to mass stranding.”
He continued: “This alternative system makes the bombs safe without blowing them up. It allows a small charge to penetrate the bomb casing without detonating it. That causes the explosives to burn out,
and the device becomes safe. This system significantly lowers emissions and noise, thus reducing dramatically the danger to wildlife.”