Call for beach bans to protect declining species

Environmental experts have called for a ban on people and dogs at some coastal spots around Guernsey to protect wading bird species.

Jamie Hooper, a conservation officer for history and nature group La Société Guernesiaise, warned some species could disappear from the island without action.

"If you disturb wading birds during the winter at a rate of once per hour, the mortality rate increases and that disturbance happens once every few minutes on some of our more popular beaches," he said.

Environment and Infrastructure President Deputy Lindsay De Sausmarez said an enforced ban at coastal spots was "not possible under our current laws".

Julie Davis, the secretary for the organisation's ornithology department, said people were often unaware of the "casual harassment" their dogs can cause.

She called for dedicated zoned areas in Guernsey just for wildlife.

"There's a number of beaches where dogs are not allowed in the summer," she said.

"If we could have a small number in the winter, where dogs are not allowed as the flip side of that measure, then it would go a long way to protecting these declining waders."

Waders are often characterised by their long legs and includes the purple sandpiper, which Mr Hooper highlighted as an example of a declining species in the island.

Mr Hooper said the purple sandpiper population had "declined by 99% in Guernsey".

"There's only one over wintering now that we know of. And once that one's gone, the species is as good as extinct," he said.

"It's not depressing because we are not seeing the birds, it is depressing because of the impact man is having."

De Sausmarez said an enforced ban at coastal spots was "not possible under our current laws" but it was an idea the States of Guernsey had been "working on".

"It's important when setting up free trade agreements to be able to demonstrate what we, as a jurisdiction are doing to protect our wildlife," she said.

The deputy said any new law needs to be "proportionate" and "reflect the different priorities for very small areas of land".

She was hopeful any wildlife legislation would be "given suitable priority in the next political term".

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