Black sludge causes more fears over sea dumping

A THICK layer of black sludge has appeared on Teignmouth’s main seafront beach, with fears it could be linked to dredging.

Earlier this year a licence to dump 10,000 tonnes of waste from the dredging of Exmouth Marina at Sprey Point was suspended after similar black silt-like material was washed ashore.

This weekend similar black silt appeared and residents feared it was tied to more dumping.

Fiona Moss took pictures of the beach at the weekend and asked: “What’s covering the front beach this morning?”

There were fears that the dredging at Exmouth may have restarted. However it has been confirmed that the Marine Maritime Organisation has extended the suspension of the licence until January 18 2019.

In March the MMO said it appears that black material on the beach was linked to storms.

But despite that the suspension remains in place while it continues its investigations. Scientific and technical advisors at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) have been carrying out modelling relating to using Sprey Point to decide if the waste would end up on the beach.

A number of site visits have been undertaken at Teignmouth Beach. On September 12 the MMO extended the suspension of the licence to 18 January 2019. The MMO say they are working with the applicant.