Paddleboarders accused of disturbing waders
A warning has been issued to watersports enthusiasts about disturbing breeding birds at a Lincolnshire saltmarsh.
North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) and Humberside Police have reminded visitors about UK conservation rules and the importance of not disturbing wildlife along the Cleethorpes coastline.
On the weekend of 11-12 May, paddleboarders were photographed travelling through an area where declining wader species, such as Eurasian Curlew, roost.
Eurasian Curlew is one of several species that relies on the saltmarshes along the Cleethorpes coast (Neil Loverock).
Bird disturbance
Cllr Stewart Swinburn from NELC said the coastline and wildlife was "vulnerable to disturbance" and warned getting too close to the marshes could cause "serious damage".
He said: "While we are mindful that local people and visitors to the resort should be able to take full advantage of our amenities, we are also guardians of the unique habitats on our shoreline. Bird disturbance is an offence and people are urged to avoid waterborne activity in the saltmarsh, specifically paddleboarders and jet-skiers.
"We urge everyone to please take notice of the signs and steer clear of the protected areas to ensure the birds and wildlife not only survive but continue to thrive."
Special habitat
Last year, 10 Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) were introduced to beaches in North East Lincolnshire, preventing people from using barbecues, lighting bonfires and releasing Chinese lanterns. Anyone who breaks the orders can be issued with a £100 fixed penalty notice by enforcement officers.
PC John Chase from Humberside Police said: "Each year we receive a large number of reports relating to the public disturbing wildlife, in particular birds that have in some cases travelled thousands of miles to our doorstep to feed and breed."
Like the rest of the Humber Estuary, the Cleethorpes coastline is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). A range of important and nationally protected invertebrates, plants, birds and mammals spend reside within the diverse habitats the site holds, such as the sand dunes, saltmarsh, mudflats and lagoons.
