JET SKI MENACE?
First Published: 14 June 2004: Updated 15 March 2006

Local bird lovers are up in arms over jet ski (Powered Water Craft) use on the River Lune, concerned for the safety of nesting birds. Several people have also complained to Virtual-Lancaster about the noise the jet skis make and raised safety concerns. John Freeman reports...

Jet skiers now regularly tear up the Lune beyond Skerton Bridge -- despite a voluntary agreement made some years ago not to go further. Some local bird watchers have called for a ban on the machines, saying that unchecked, the jet ski problem will only get worse. They are especially concerned by jet ski use further down the Lune, on the marsh channels where birds are nesting.

In August 2004, local bird watcher Jon Carter told Virtual-Lancaster that he thinks that this year the tern population has suffered badly during its nesting season, with very few young born because of jet ski disturbance. The effects of the noise will be worse in winter he feels, because birds nest in the marshes have a very short time to feed, which they need to do to survive overnight cold. Any disturbance will wreck the feeding cycle -- and the bird population numbers could be decimated.

The noise of jet skis is another environmental concern. "If someone rode up and down my street on a motor cycle all afternoon the police would be here like a shot," one local living near the Lune told Virtual-Lancaster. "But there doesn't seem to be anything to stop these people from ruining a quiet summer afternoon. It's a disgrace."

"One of the things I love about living in Marsh is the access to countryside," says local Ian McCulloch. "Five minutes walk down the footpath next to Coronation Field and you're surrounded by fields, another five and you're at Marsh Point. Which is great unless it's a sunny Sunday afternoon, and the river is full of screaming jet-skis from the Golden Ball on the opposite bank. In a spot which is gloriously quiet apart from them it seems a bit much."

"I've never seen so many nesting birds on the River Lune as I have this year," one Skerton resident told Virtual-Lancaster in June. "They're an absolute delight and a wonderful sight for both locals and visitors alike.

"Sadly, it appears the increasing number of jet skiers on the Lune are determined to rob us of this wonderful natural attraction."

Local councillors are beginning to wake up to the issue, with promises of investigation and possible action. Lancaster councillor Ron Sands, cabinet member responsible for tourism, feels action must be taken, pointing out that the Lake District National Park Authority's new speed restrictions on Lake Windermere, due to come into force next year, will lead to what he calls "a search by the hundreds of displaced skiiers for alternative habitats to destroy."

He has good reason to be worried - in a letter to Virtual-Lancaster in July 2004, family boat owner Mick Lockwood, warned that jet skiers and boat users opposed to the Windermere ban intend to make the Lune "a focal point for protest, with a number demonstrations planned for next year."

"Don't just assume all power boaters are evil," argues Lockwood who argues some 7000 responsible people use boats and jet skis on Lake Winderemere at present and will be looking for alternatives. "They are your responsible neighbours, families, professionals, everyday people. Put pen to paper and don't attack the people practising their sport, attack the LDNPA for taking away the access that is rightfully theirs."

Mick himself told Virtual-Lancaster "We have the utmost respect for the environment and consider the Lune the wrong place for any powered water sport. I agree with you that PWC and their owners often have little respect. This has had a knock on affect and created a misconception about every form of powered watercraft."

"There needs to be a place for people to pursue their sport," says Mick, "and that's what it is: a sport, like it or loathe it in any form, it won't go away, it"s part of our heritage. The LDNPA fail to realise this.

"The key is education and better management, not banishing people without a care for displacement. When Windermere is closed 7000 people will automatically search for somewhere else. If they go in the sea we'll either be drowned or poisoned, so people will turn to rivers instead. The LDNPA for no reason is creating a massive problem, and part of this problem will move to the Lune."

Until now, although there has been some discussion among local organisations with environmental interests -- such as the Morecambe Bay Partnership -- no clear plan to address the problems jets skiers cause on the Lune (and in Morecambe Bay) has been agreed. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds told Virtual-Lancaster they have no plans for a campaign, even though jet skis (and boat users) are threatening habitats across the country.

"RSPB has no plans for a national campaign against jet-skis as they do not cause conservation problems in the majority of situations," says Tim Melling from the RSPB's North West Regional Office. "Where they do conflict with conservation interests then we will act accordingly.

As for the Arctic Terns on Colloway Marsh, Tim is also in favour of educating river users about the bird population's needs. "Some years ago there were similar problems that were sorted through meetings with the water recreation clubs," he points out. "I would hope that the current problems can be sorted out by a similar approach, and reminding them of the code of good conduct that was agreed with them."

Nationally, government has yet to find time to address concerns raised by several local authorities about jet ski use, even though the machines have been in use for over five years in the UK. Jet skis, which can reach speeds of more than 70mph and can be legally driven by children, remain unregulated.

Locals point out there is likely to be more jet ski use on the Lune in future and the dangers they pose to personal safety. (Earlier in 2004, a 32-year-old man was seriously injured in a collision between two jet skis off Ardrossan beach in North Ayrshire. A man was killed on a North Yorkshire lake in 2003, after a collision between two jet skis.).

America bans skiers
In the US, where jet ski use is more prevalent, steps have been taken against them on both conservation and noise pollution grounds. Several national parks have banned jet ski use outright, after numerous studies revealed they can cause lasting damage to park resources and wildlife. Hawaii has classified jet skis as "thrillcraft" and banned them from some coastal waters during the whale calving season. In California, the Monterrey Bay National Marine Sanctuary severely restricted personal watercraft because of the threat posed to sea otters and other users of the 4,000-square-mile sanctuary. Campaigners against jet skis living in Cape Cod cited a catalogue of issues with the vehicles, arguing they pollute the air and water, create law enforcement problems, threaten public safety, endanger wildlife, destroy natural quiet and diminish visitor enjoyment.

It is now law to wear helmets and life jackets while riding a jet ski in some states -- and New York state now requires all skiers, regardless of their age, complete an 8-hour boating safety course before they can use a machine there, or face being fined.

Local action?
Lancaster City Council already has byelaws in place to deal with motorcycle abuse and it was thought it might be possible they could be applied to jet skiers. However, in a letter to Coun Jon Barry, council staff say that unfortunately noise from jet skis is not currently actionable under existing noise control legislation, basically because it is not from 'premises', nor is it from vehicle in a street. This is a similar problem to that of motorcycles scrambling on open land, where action can be taken against the landowner (if known).

"The introduction of a byelaw may be the best way forward," suggests Martin Brownjohn, "but Legal Services would have to advise on whether this would be possible, and I have approached them for advice. They also may be able to advise on who has control over use of the river. "...This appears to be yet another area where the legislation is lagging behind the problem, and no solution is currently available!"

It remains to be seen whether any action will - or can - be taken, especially given apparent government reticence to tackle the problem despite the dangers and destruction jet skis can pose if used improperly.

Perhaps it's time for those people angered by the use of jet skis to push for a bye law being passed themselves?

What do YOU think?

If you have a comment you'd like added to this story online, write to us at john@virtual-lancaster.net

Links

•Windermere Action Force
Campaign against 10mph ban on Winderemere

From Minnesota National Public Radio
•The dangers of unregulated Jet Ski Use to swimmers
Both sides of the argument put

• Environmental impact of Jet Skis