Devon jet ski ban boost to wildfowl

A river estuary has seen the number of protected birds soar after the use of jet skis was banned.

The three-year project to give nature more space on the Exe estuary in Devon has paid dividends, according to a report.

Wildlife refuges were established between Sept 15 and Dec 31 each year at the Exmouth “Duckpond” and off Dawlish Warren, banning jet ski riders from potentially disturbing waders, ducks, geese, swans and birds of prey such as peregrine falcons.

Cllr Martin Wrigley said: “The latest monitoring reports show great results for the wildlife on the Exe estuary.”

The report said that the refuges “significantly reduce disturbance to protected bird species” and the results indicated they were in the right places.

The maximum numbers of wildfowl recorded at the Exmouth refuge showed an annual increase over the three years of the programme.