It’s great to see the Isle of Man Government promoting the environment, and encouraging the islands business to take responsibility for their single use operations… we are fully on board with this!
https://www.biosphere.im/news/plastic-free-business-scheme-launched

BUT… and it’s a BIG BUT

We know of 2 issues that we would argue are just as important as the marine pollution talked about in this article which are not being talked about

Firstly, raw sewage being pumped in to the sea in Peel Bay

AND

Secondly, toxic chemicals being pumped in to Peel bay from the Raggatt.

I’m sure many of you reading this will agree with us that this approach just isn’t acceptable. We want to start the conversation on this publicly and hold the politicians, for whom we voted, accountable.

Raw sewage being pumped in to the sea…this isn’t a new issue! It’s been debated and talked about for years, but nothing has come of it. How many years?!?!?! Surely this is of national importance now! This is an article from 2009, holy smokes! http://www.isleofman.com/News/details/31583/dot-puts-peel-sewage-plant-on-hold

The beach and the seas are resources of joy for humans, packed, not a space in sight during a hot summer’s day, families enjoying cooling off in the Irish Sea, but yet we still seem to fuck it up.

On one of Visit Isle of Man’s recent Instagram posts, the Isle of Man Government was promoting our waters, saying “we’d like people to take the plunge and enjoy the Island's cool crystal waters and revitalise their souls”. Considering tonnes of raw sewage is pumped in to the sea in Peel and Laxey each day, this statement is hard to believe!

We have international agreements in place like the Oslo – Paris Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic” (OSPAR) with the goal to prevent and eliminate marine pollution, but for some reason we think a pragmatic approach to disposing of our waste is acceptable (https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/departments/environment-food-and-agriculture/environment

We are a Biosphere nation which pledges to “contribute to preserving and enhancing our land and seascape and biodiversity”. How can we sit there and promote this as something we do, when we pump raw sewage and chemicals into our waters?(https://www.biosphere.im/our-5s

Sea dipping has become very popular, boasting mental health benefits, which have been very important to some over the past 18 months. It’s disappointing that this continued approach from government prevents some individuals from experiencing those benefits. (https://outdoorswimmer.com/blogs/swim-positive

At Roots, we have had hundreds of different faces joining us for a dip and a social afterwards. Unfortunately, because of Government’s lack of transparency, recklessness and accountability, we have now made it our intention to inform our community of exactly what is going on. We accept responsibility for improving our single use plastic operations and we’re now calling on the Isle of Man Government to take responsibility for the marine pollution they are causing in Peel bay.

It’s not like the Government haven’t been warned of the implications of doing this… Former Isle of Man Government freshwater biologist and environmental protection officer Callum MacNeil states this action is completely unacceptable and illegal. He also highlights public health issues. (http://www.iomtoday.co.im/article.cfm?id=59781&headline=New%20water%20pollution%20standards%20approved&sectionIs=News&searchyear=2021

As an Island, we supposedly are wanting to lead by example and show the rest of the word how to save our oceans. As illustrated in this Guardian article entitled “ A sea change: how one small island showed us how to save our oceans”. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/23/a-sea-change-how-one-small-island-showed-us-how-to-save-our-oceans

The worst of it all is that the Government knows exactly what it is doing. Here is Richard Ronan’s commentary 215 proceedings Tuesday 28th June 2016 volume 133 No 22. “Levels of a range of metals anomonia, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) identified in the leachate draining from the Raggatt facility, exceed relevant environmental quality standards and make it unsuitable for direct discharge to the river neb”

Recently the Government approved a scheme to monitor “Designated bathing waters” around the island, where water samples will be taken weekly from these designated areas. Alarmingly, there are only 4 sites which include Port Erin, Port St Mary, Ramsey South and Douglas. All other sites to be assessed monthly. This feels like a step backwards. Lets be frank, you’d expect ALL waters around a biosphere nation to be suitable for swimming in. Furthermore, these “designated bathing waters” will only be monitored during the “bathing” season, despite being used all year round by surfers, kite surfers, kayakers, paddle boards and sea dippers. A somewhat cynical approach especially considering all the talk about water quality in Laxey and Peel. You can read Geoffrey Boot commentary 5535, Tynwald Court proceedings 20th April 2021 and the contrasting report form Manx radio here https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/tynwald-approves-bathing-water-quality-scheme/

We don’t have any information on the effects this will have, and will have already had on marine life around the west of our Island. But, given the concern shown in the original article towards marine pollution, we are sure our concerns will resonate with the relevant government departments.

Promises have been made for at least a decade by our Islands politicians. In Ray Harmers 2015 manifesto for this term, he stated he “would move forward, without delay, a resolution regarding sewage treatment for Peel”.

Given the chances and opportunities the Isle of Man Government have had to put this right, we think it’s now time for the community of Peel voices to be heard. We at Roots by the Sea have spoken to many individuals who have sea related interests, who are saddened that this is still happening. The bottom line is, MHKs are elected to serve the people of its constituency. If they are not serving their constituency, they need to be held accountable.

The Isle of Man Government… Stop dumping waste into the Isle of Man’s waters! 

If any of the above resonates with you we urge you to sign the petition so that our voices can be heard!