Ards and North Down Council criticised for leaving seal carcasses on beaches

Ards and North Down Council has been criticised for the length of time it has taken to remove washed up seal carcasses on its beaches, with an elected representative stating one carcass took two weeks to be removed by the authority.

At a meeting of the council’s Environment Committee this week, councillors unanimously agreed to a motion calling for a report looking at how the council could improve its service in removing the washed up bodies of sea animals, including seals and whales.

The motion by DUP Alderman Robert Adair states that the council “notes the continuing issue of dead seals washed up on our beaches and coastline and the negative impact that this has on the use of beaches when the carcasses are not picked up in a timely manner.”

It adds it will task officers to bring forward a report “to ensure seal carcasses are prioritised for removal as soon as possible after reporting to ensure that our beaches continue to be a clean, safe, and well managed coastal environment to be enjoyed by everyone.” The Alliance Party proposed the motion include other animals washed up from the sea such as whales.

DUP Alderman Robert Adair told the committee: “I bring this motion following on another last month about the cleanliness of our beaches. Unfortunately the cleanliness of our beaches has been neglected by the council.

“We have one of the largest coastlines in Northern Ireland, beaches are enjoyed by residents, we are blessed to have wonderful scenery in our locality, but some take it for granted. And visitors come from all over.”

He added: “In the past six months I have seen a sharp increase in the washing up of seal carcasses. They had been moved by the council in a timely manner until recently.

“The Portavogie community have noted on Facebook at least four recent incidents in which carcasses lay for over a week and deteriorated badly. This was very unsettling for children visiting the beach, and there have been environmental impacts, with the foul smelling carcass attracting flies. People started to avoid the beaches.

“90 percent of the complaints I received are from beaches that are under council control, and only 10 percent on those outside council control. On one of the beaches I reported it took 14 days for the carcass to be lifted.”

He said: “We need a joined up approach in the way to deal with dead seal carcasses on our beaches and those not on our beaches.

“I know it is unavoidable, we live in a coastal environment and from time to time we will have carcasses washed up on our beaches. There has been a rise, and we need to be more proactive.”

DUP Councillor Janice MacArthur, who seconded the motion, said: “In December a couple of incidents of seals washing up on the coastline was brought to my attention, one was alive and the other was sadly a victim of the cycle of life.

She said: “In the case of the dead seal there was a bit of a runaround in trying to resolve the situation. The statutory agency with the responsibility is a little unclear.

“A member of the public has (highlighted) advice on the DAERA website, where it states advice to report to the council. The member of the public did this and they were then advised it was not on council land and that the National Trust had responsibility.

“So perhaps a report coming back on this could be specific on seals that are washed up on council owned beaches and those that are not. I looked at our council website and noted we do not have any advice on that. On the Belfast Council animal welfare page they allow the public to log requests for removal of animals.”

She said: “Anything that we can do to make the process explicable and more readily managed is to be welcomed and a few small changes could help everyone.”

UUP Councillor Pete Wray said: “Not only is it upsetting for residents who want to enjoy our beaches, but it also creates a real danger to pets and other animals.

“I am aware of residents who have deliberately not gone out to enjoy our beaches because they have been scared their animals would go near these carcasses and become ill. This is a priority issue, and I am glad the motion recognises this.

“I have reported this issue, and at times the response has been fantastic, it has been instantaneous, and at other times I have waited well over a week. In correspondence with officers, the reason they have told me for the delays has been pressure on work loads.”