Legal dumping causes tragic loss of life for hundreds of seabirds

Wild Futures are joining the call for an urgent change in the law after hundreds of dead birds washed ashore along the coastline near their flagship project, The Monkey Sanctuary, in Cornwall. A substance, thought to be PIB (polyisobutylene), has covered hundreds of seabirds in a sticky glue-like substance. PIB is used commercially in everything from plastic explosives to tyre linings and chewing gum. In shipping, it is used as a fuel additive.

The source of the recent, damaging pollution is thought to be from ships flushing their ballast tanks into the sea. Presently, PIB can legally be discharged 12 miles offshore.

Paul Reynolds, Education Officer for Wild Futures, said “This terrible, preventable disaster has now happened twice in the last few months. Legislation needs to be tightened to ensure that this never happens again, it’s evident that PIBs are not diluted and dispersed but directly cause the mass suffering and loss of life of hundreds, if not thousands, of seabirds.”

Staff and volunteers from Wild Futures have been putting much effort into searching for live birds and removing baskets full of dead birds along the mile stretch of coastline between Millendreath and Seaton.

Paul continued “We spent 3 days looking for live birds and managed to rescue 4 Guillemots which have now been taken to the RSPCA’s West Hatch centre in Taunton for treatment. The birds were covered in an extremely sticky substance- it looked as if they had been dipped into exceptionally thick glue. We’ve also collected dead birds in an attempt to remove the substance from the environment.”

Amongst the hundreds of dead birds were guillemots, razorbills, gannets and a cormorant. Many of the birds have been heavily predated, meaning that the contaminant could have spread into the wider environment, which may cause further problems for wildlife. It appears to be the same substance that caused a similar disaster off the coast of Dorset in February.

In addition to their leading work in primate care and welfare, Wild Futures also works to conserve UK species in danger and promote UK wildlife conservation. Wild Futures are adding their voice to the call for PIB to be reclassified to make it illegal to dump it at sea, preventing further tragedies for wildlife.

Wild Futures are urging supporters to write to their MP and sign the online petition  http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Save_our_Sea_Birds_Stop_dumping_polyisobutylene_into_our_seas/?pv=17

For further information, updates and advice please see Looe Marine Conservation Groups’ website: http://www.looemarineconservation.org