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Summary of environmental impacts
The launching of craft from formal/constructed
access points is likely to have minimal impact on marine features
except where it involves trampling and scouring of the feature.
However, where such a facility encourages high levels of usage,
the nature conservation value of the site may be affected.
The launching of craft from non-constructed
access points, which is relatively common for personal watercraft,
may result in compaction and erosion of features and damage
to vegetation.
There is little evidence to suggest that emissions
from two-stroke engines used by personal watercraft have an
observable impact on marine features.
The relatively high pitch and irregular beat
of a personal watercraft engine, combined with a tendency for
personal watercraft to be used close to the shore at relatively
high speeds, can create a noise nuisance. However, sound tests
have shown the magnitude of the sound to be little different
from that of other motorised craft.
Although most litter in the marine environment
is from sources other than water-based recreation, irresponsible
behaviour from some boat users may contribute to the problem.
The small size, shallow draft and jet drive
systems of PWC allow the craft to enter areas which are not
normally navigable for other motorised craft. This may cause
physical disturbance to sensitive habitats and sound disturbance
to wildlife. Although other small craft are able to access similar
areas, the ability of PWC to enter such areas under power provides
greater potential for disturbance of wildlife and physical damage
to features. However, there is limited evidence as to any resultant
impacts.
There is no evidence to suggest that the magnitude
of turbidity caused by jet driven craft is any different to
that caused by conventional craft. However, their ability to
access shallow areas is likely to cause greater localised turbidity
which may have an impact on submerged vegetation in lagoons
and low flushing areas.
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Issue
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mSAC Feature
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Low flushing estuaries
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Fast flushing estuaries
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Mud and sand flats not covered by sea water at low tide
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Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water at
all times
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Low flushing large shallow inlets and bays
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Fast flushing large shallow inlets and bays
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Reefs
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Lagoons
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Submerged or partly submerged sea caves
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Grey seal
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Common seal
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Bottlenose dolphin
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Launching1
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w
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w
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w
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m
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w
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w
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w
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w *
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w *
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m
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Engine emissions
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m
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m
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m
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m
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m
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m
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m
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|
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m
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m
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m
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Noise disturbance
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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w
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w
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w
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Disturbance to wildlife2
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w *
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w *
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w *
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m
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w *
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w *
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w
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w
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w *
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w *
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w *
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Erosion and turbidity3
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w
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m
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m
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w
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w
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w
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m
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w
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Key to impacts
Blank Square- not applicable
m - minimal
w - observable,
likely to be location specific
w * - observable
at certain times, minimal at other times
l - appreciable
Notes
-
physical impact on feature
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presence of craft in proximity to wildlife
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trampling, scouring - in water impacts
depend upon the depth of water and speed of craft
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