Argyll hosts some of the country’s, if not the world’s, most spectacular coastline and scenery. Remote, pristine, impressive, biologically diverse and home to many Argyllers, it is visited by thousands and this is where the problems arise.
The vast majority of people abide by the Country Code: taking nothing but photos, leaving nothing but footprints. But some do not. These few are not only spoiling the aesthetics of this beautiful countryside but risk endangering people’s health as well as that of many animals.
This article concerns people’s rubbish – and one activity group that keeps reccurring as a major perpetrator is the angling fraternity. What makes anglers stand out from the crowd is that they visit all year round – no respite, no time safe from beer cans, drunken louts, abuse, hooks, lines and of course the mountains of rubbish left behind.
The rubbish gives the anglers away; boxes of bait, like the frozen squid pictured above and other evidence following an overnight’s fishing.
The charity Keep Scotland Beautiful says: ‘We are lucky in Scotland to live in one of the most beautiful places in the world. That is why dumped waste has such a negative impact. Dumped waste can affect us all at some time, whether it is close to our homes or in the countryside that we visit and it is up to everyone to do what they can to stop it’.
It has a ‘Dumb Dumpers Stop Line’ – 0845 2 30 40 90.
It goes on: ‘Dumping waste is illegal, and really dumb, therefore anyone who does it is committing a serious offence and can be prosecuted. If you see anyone dumping rubbish illegally then call the Dumb Dumpers Stop Line on 0845 2 30 40 90”. For further information please visit the website‘.
It is not just charity groups that are complaining. Local communities are angry. Not only does this constant mess annoy local people and visitors alike, it can poison watercourses. These watercourses provide drinking water in remote areas and cause a multitude of problems along our coastline from wildlife, pets and even children swimming and becoming entangled with abandoned hooks and fishing line.
In the Oban area two cats were reported with hooks stuck through the their lips.
In loch Etive, a Herring Gull swallowed a hook and part of the line. Tthe other end of the line had entangled a Common Gull. Both were still alive when found but the Herring Gull had been trying to fly away, only to drag the Common Gull across the water and foreshore. The injuries were horrific. The Herring Gull’s throat had been pulled out of its mouth and the Common Gull had been split from its neck, under one wing, right through its skin, by the fishing line, all of its internal rib structure could be seen; a long painful death.
The numerous pictures shown here are just the tip of the rubbish pile. Some is bagged and left. Much is just thrown where it was consumed or burnt. Bin bags, depending on the smell of the contents, take on average about a day or two before the gulls, crows and other hungry animals rip them open, allowing the wind and water to distribute the contents around the countryside.
Rural areas don’t have road sweepers to mop up after the inconsiderate. Who do the dumpers think will clear their rubbish?
One of the very reasons for visiting beautiful scenic areas are, the beautiful scenic, rubbish free areas, how long will they remain this way if people don’t dispose of their rubbish in a suitable manner. Local residents help clear the rubbish and local councils clear some; at tax payers’ expense. Why should they have to – and some of it is disgusting.
Even the recent snow fails to cover the constant stream of rubbish. When these people are confronted, abuse reigns. Some become quite aggressive. Others suddenly become experts in Scottish law and private boundaries.
There may be no law of trespass in Scotland but since the successful ‘Stagecoach’ case law, people cannot simply walk past people’s houses or close to them in order to gain access to rivers and coastline and this type of action is hardly taking the Scottish Rights to accessing land in Scotland responsibly.
Roadside signs indicating a massive fine of £40,000 to ‘Dumb Dumpers’ are an indication of the problem faced in some regions.
A message here to those that think that they came get away with it: local communities are recording car number plates and have been passing details on to the police and other authorities.
Communities are taking this matter seriously and if any wish to collate information or want further information they can contact Marine Concern. Emergency cases should always be via the 999 calls system.
Many communities have been collecting all types of rubbish from beaches around our coasts and hold beach cleaning parties. The GRAB Trust ( Group for Recycling in Argyll & Bute) organise such events and they have a dedicated Beaches and Marine Litter Officer, further details and information can be found on their website, linked above.
Even the anglers themselves are fighting back. The Scottish Sea Anglers Conservation Network (SSACN) has been working very hard addressing this problem. It has been running an initiative called KAST – the aims are to clean up, and keep clean the many sites where sea anglers go to enjoy a day’s fishing on the beautiful coastline of Scotland.
KAST had numerous ‘clean-up angling days’ in black-spot locations all round Scotland, from Connel to Cainryan, Cairndow to Crawton. The days were spent collecting rubbish. Keep Scotland Beautiful and the local authorities provided equipment and the rest of the day was enjoyed by people fishing.
By taking part in the KAST cleanup SSACN members gained points which all went towards the KAST Cup Campaign. Learn more about the Scottish Sea Anglers Conservation Network.
Don’t forget – Dumping waste is illegal. People dumping waste are committing a serious offence, if you see anyone dumping rubbish please:
- call the Dumb Dumpers Stop Line 0845 2 30 40 90 (Photos and vehicle number plates can be helpful – if you can obtain them discreetly. ForArgyll would not recommend approaching these people).
- or, If you prefer, you can simply fill in a form on-line
Mark Carter Environment Editor
The photographs above are by copyright holder Mark Carter and may not be reproduced without permission.
In my younger and fitter days I used to stravaig across our wilder countryside and I still entertain ambitions to resume such activities. I was constantly surprised to find casual litter in some most unlikely places. Why for instance would anyone who was prepared to make the considerable effort required to reach the summit of some remote Munro be so ignorant, insensitive and thoughtless as to leave behind the wrappings and empty cans from their lunch?
One regular haunt of mine was the modest top of Ben Lora and I can recall one day reaching the top to encounter a family of tourists. We chatted for a while and they were spellbound by the 360 degree views that you get from this smashing wee hill. I spotted a plastic supermarket bag full of litter neatly tied and placed against the Trig Pillar. As I prepared to leave I lifted the bag and was asked what I was going to do with their litter -until then I had presumed it had been left by others. I told them I would carry it down the hill and leave it in the bin in the Car Park. I joked that the collection dates for Argyll & Bute Environmental Services did not extend to the top of our hills. Their look of utter incomprehension indicated that they had no idea that what they were doing was wrong.
When you see the way that rubbish is dropped without thought and without penalty in our streets and thrown out of cars on to the verges it is clear that we have a great deal of work to do to restore pride and apprecaition of the land we liv e in..
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Yes, annoying isn’t it?
But putting anti-angling agendas and prejudices aside for a moment let’s not forget it’s not only anglers who leave their rubbish lying around. As a keen hill walker and angler I have recollections of coming off remote hills on more than one occasion with a rucksack full of litter left by other hill walkers.
All of the hundreds of anglers who visit our Scottish fly fishing forum are equally sick of the morons, anglers or otherwise, who foul our wonderful countryside.
What can be done to stop it?
No idea, but restricting motorised camping access to official sites only might go some way to help. At least it would limit the weight of beer, spirits, bottles and cans these idiots can carry.
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I have been an angler for most of my adult life and I belong to several forums and clubs consisting of people with similar interests to my own. Beyond our shared interest in Scotland’s rivers and lochs we share many values, such as a deep respect for our wild places. Values that set us apart from those that would carelessly and selfeshly leave their rubbish behind them. I cannot think of a single one of my fly fisher friends who does not routinely clear up after himself. This suggests to me that the culprits in the article are at best casual anglers and that they would conduct themselves in a similar fashion regardless of their reason for visiting our beautiful places. It is misleading to suggests that anglers are prone to littering than other groups of say campers or walkers because individuals from any of these activities can share a similar mindset. I accept that where an angler leaves behind fishing line the consequences can be drastic for wildlife, but the same can be said about plastic rings from beer cans and so on. singling out and villifying a specific group is not helpful, but makes for good headlines.
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Anyone that leaves litter behind is a litter lout and a criminal. The activity they are engaged in is an irrelevance. I’m an angler and don’t leave my sh*t lying about. The only thing I leave being are footprints and the fish (I advocate C&R).
I object to you Mr Carter, tarring me, with your very broad brush.
Why not title your article Dumb dumpers: Holidaymakers accused………..or Campers accused…….. drivers accused? Do you see my point?
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As an angler, I have to admit I am horrified by the amount of litter left by some others.
All I would say is that we are not all litter louts and a great many of us go fishing to take in the sights, sounds and indeed the whole experience of the countryside, as well as to fish. Anglers are not a “type”, we are a broad cross section of society. There are “fishermen” and there are fishermen.
Please, please, do not tar us all as litter louts, because we are not all like that. Quite the reverse in fact. It annoys me when I find litter at a pristine hill loch and so I remove it and take it off the hill. If you can carry it in, you can carry it out.
If you were to visit one of my campsites after I had left, you would find nothing but flattened grass.
Alex
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Like so many many things connected with negative countryside behaviour there is no real answer to solving the problem, except back to my call for National Park status, because with it comes more environmental education for visitors in such areas, more education of our youngsters along with far more outdoor activities and at least some awareness by visitors that these are special environmental paces. ‘NO’ its not the perfect answer and some will say that National Parks attract more people. But I repeatedly put the case that there is no other plan A for these sorts of environmental crimes and green issues that increasingly occur in the Highlands and Islands.
I remember a friend sending me video of a fishermen on a fishing boat out at sea endlessly throwing large cardboard boxes over the side of his boat. No one in authority wanted to know about it, seemingly because the video in itself was not enough to bring any sort of action against that person?? I personally feel that a park authority would take a dimmer view of such actions.
I am very happy to hear arguments against Park status but I need someone to give me a better plan ‘A’ and not just more small talk !!! Its fine and makes one feel better moaning about litter in the natural environment but what should be done about it and the hundreds of similar issues that concern caring people living in rural areas.??
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Just a quick note from the author:
I’m very pleased that my article has stirred a lot of interest and response, I feel that a few of the remarks require a wee comment.
• I do not write to “headlines” rather environmental occurrences and problems.
• I have no anti-anything agenda, as long as it can be sustainable and conducted in an environmentally friendly manner (if not and an established way of living then away from vulnerable habitats and species).
• I fully agree with the comments regarding other countryside/marine users such as hill walkers, sailors and general mass tourists, if I had the evidence to hand, that would have been the focus here (it’s winter and I did not, maybe a summertime article looming), if any of you do have the evidence please contact the dumb dumpers hot line or fill in the on line form.
• It find it reassuring even in today’s modern society that there are still many of us who can take the time and effort to pick-up and remove other peoples rubbish; thank you.
• I make no apologies for people feeling resentful or any other form of passion; if this is what it takes to get the masses, rather than the committed few (like some of the comment writers above) to actually do something about the problems we face, if this is so, then my article has achieved its objective. Please and from the comments above, I feel sure that some of you already have, join associations like the SSACN and encourage others to do the same. There are many charities that do a great job protecting our environment; just now with the current economic climate they really need our help! In Scotland charities that make up the Scottish Environmental LINK http://www.scotlink.org/ , would I’m sure appreciate your membership/support.
• As a former committed sea-kayaker (and mountain walker), I can totally acknowledge the feeling and difference between what I term kayakists and kayakers (“kayakists” are the committed, dare I say “professionals”, and act responsibly and the “kayakers” are the, not so committed or educated, those that abuse lots of what they come into contact with) ; the same analogy could be made to any sport or interest, such as hill walking and angling: as the committed few if we want to enjoy our surroundings as we would like to find them then it is up to us to educate the rest; I feel that it is not sufficient to sit back and simply state, “It’s not my problem”, or the government can sort it.
Thanks for listening and taking the time to write: tight lines! Mark.
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“Dumb dumpers: anglers accused”
- followed by “Mark Carter” at the foot of the piece = Mark Carter NOT writing to a headline?
What Mark is saying is quite correct, littering, dumping, and other countryside abuse MUST be stopped, and campaigns which result in increased awareness, people thinking twice, and the apprehension of criminals may help.
Headlining ONE country/seaside-using group doesn’t.
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Unless I am mistaken, did I not see Mr Woodhouse above on TV on Mull driving along without a seatbelt on AND if so will he now be handing himself into the police or is he just a ‘loud mouthed hypocrite’?
After all he wanted action taken against the fisherman filmed above??
Also, as Mr Woodhouse moved to Scot-land as a hotelier – now exploiting our wildlife and blaming the demise of Mull’s hotels on ‘no park’ status and hoteliers not catering for certain races – which in turn I consider to be racist. Will he then give up his holiday accommodation for the good of the hotels and rent out that accommodation to Mull’s community he talks so “loudly for” or is just a ‘loud mouthed racist hypocrite’?
Hey, I am all for protecting Scot-land’s people, wildlife and environment from the likes of Mr Woodhouse!
Oh, can anyone tell me what the diffrence is in polluting Scot-land and the pollution of thousands of holiday houses and sporting estates?
Mr Woodhouse, feel free to answer the questions – although note I consider you to be polluting Scot-land’s environment and if a “park” gets rid of you and your ‘loud mouthed’ kind, bring it on as I am sure you have read before Mr Woodhouse, wildlife can’t talk for themselves but people can!
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“if I had the evidence to hand”
Funny thing ‘evidence’
Not so long ago you stated one local fisherman shot 200 seals in a season. The thing is Mr Carter if you have the evidence to back that statement up – name that individual, get him charged, do something about it!
However, if you don’t have that evidence then it’s simply yet another outrageous and slanderous remark that targets all fisherman.
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Message from Caroline Askew of the GRAB Trust – Argyll’s energetic recyling and clean up charity: If any anglers are interested in organising a clean up of any Argyll shoreline, she can help with lending equipment. Her email is: caroline.askew@argyll-bute.gov.uk
And of course the vast majority of anglers are protective of the interests of the environment that gives them so much pleasure – and of the small communities who live and work near where they fish.
But there are more than enough of the aggressively careless variety to give the sport a bad name.
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Pingback: KeepScotTidy (Keep Scotland Tidy)
With reference to Andy M above:
Evidence and fact is straight forward; it is what we as a society can do with it is what is troublesome; an example here is some use of statics.
Two things arise out of your comment:
Firstly; the 200 seals were not shot, they were caught in static nets, no offence as far as I am aware?
Secondly; Even if 200 seals were shot under the current Conservation of Seals Act 1970 and the requirements of that Act were complied with, there is still no offence, that is why there has been a strong representation to change the outdated legislation within the Marine (Scotland) Bill.
The admission, of 200 dead seals came from a fisherman, who I know well and respect. He was not proud of his by-catch, he was not boasting about the kill, he had no requirement to inform anyone, and he chose to do so for information, possibly in order to help prevent such occurrences happening in the future.
If by producing fact and evidence, I am to be classed as “outrageous”, then so be it. “Slanderous” is much more specific; I don’t believe that I have even been insulting; furthermore, libellous without evidence and fact can be put before the courts; I have corroborated evidence, I have in the past called the police to events.
All fishermen are not the same, as the comments above clearly indicate; if your comment regarding fishermen is referring to the commercial sector, then I think that you are misled, events in the commercial sector are well documented. Many global fisheries are beyond what is considered “safe biological limits” (mainly over fished). There is no axe to grind here, simply a report of the facts; can I suggest that you lookout for my Creelers and Divers article, to be published soon.
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Your acknowledgement that the vast majority of anglers care for their environment is comforting Caroline. However, the exclusion of this sentiment from the above article also serves to highlight the fact that it lacks balance and leaves the reader with the opinion that anglers are disproportionately worse offenders than other groups and are in general ‘aggressively careless’. An article that lacks balance will inevitably be biased and serve an agenda, even if this is unintentional. And Mark, insufficient evidence due to it being winter is not a good enough reason for producing a biased article. You are responsible for what you write and if you are aware that anglers are not the only culprits, even anecdotally, then you have a responsiblity for evidencing this.
I personally set aside every Tuesday evening during the trout fishing season to pick up debris left behind by users of my local river, which includes rubbish dumped by folk who fish while there. I do it because an environment I care about is being harmed and ongoing action is necessary to keep on top of the problem. However, notwithstanding the fact that I enjoy a similar activity, I do not have ownership of other anglers’ mess any more than non anglers do. This responsibility is shared equally by everyone.
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At last a sign that doesn’t say “Face a fine of up to £500″ but a definate fine.
Every year MAWPS (Make Afton Water Prosper Schemes) go into Robert Burns’ sweet Afton Water and take out broken bottles etc and every year there seems to be little change. Littering and dumping must be stamped out, and not just in our rivers.
Burns Corridor
Keep it clean
Cheers, Geoff
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This article has certainly created some interest, from the comments above, to emails to the newsroom and to me direct, I’ve also received a few phone calls.
Judging by the responses, good, bad and indifferent, I would say that the balance was just about right; from outrageous to “tar all with the same brush” to “not going far enough, the only rubbish we see is left by anglers”.
I would like to thank all that have responded; this has helped to raise the profile and will hopefully help in stopping future dumping. I do think that it is important for some to revisit the article and check just what was written, including the comments, to reiterate this was a news item concerning rubbish and the environment. To write about what tourists (or any other group) left during the summer months, last year, would not be news.
This news item identified rubbish being left in lochside locations over the Christmas period, without exception the rubbish photographed was left by anglers, so this cannot be termed “disproportionate” to anglers. My reference to “aggressive”, was just that. If approached some anglers became very aggressive. The article started with, “The vast majority of people abide by the country code”; this may be a case of the few spoiling it for the rest but local feelings are that they are sick and tired of clearing up after all night fishing sessions. I am very pleased to hear that so many anglers do take their environmental responsibility seriously, and I would hope that some of these people will go on and explain the rubbish related problems to the main perpetrators.
Regarding evidence with the 200 seals issue; further reports can be found, one paper titled, Monofiliment gill net use in Scotland, Ross. A. 1996 for WWF states: An approximate 4,629 harbour porpoise were caught and killed by gill fisheries (turbot, hake & cod), this does not include porpoise that were killed and dropped out of the nets (this figure includes extrapolated data). Another report by Northridge in 1988 reported that one vessel caught 36 seals (it does not state a time scale, but thought to be one trip). But in 1980 tangle nets fisheries off Barra and the Uists caught and killed 107 seals during a two month period.
One phone call highlighted a particular problem; some city folk, who maybe, are used to just dropping their rubbish in the streets where it is cleaned up for them, maybe they just need to be told?
One email suggested a great idea; Can an awareness campaign be run through anglers suppliers, handing out leaflets etc. (If anyone/suppliers are interested in following up on this please let us know).
I understand that both Keep Scotland Tidy and GRAB have been in touch with at least one fishing association and that some joint activity may be seen in the future.
To end: keep an eye out for the summer rubbish article, photographic records will show who the dumpers are.
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Hi Mark, hi all
I’ve not read quite all the comments to your very to-the-point article but I do agree that it’s not just dumb anglers but dumb dumpers in general that cause massive problems to the environment and to us all by leaving their rubbish wherever they go. In the High School area of Oban, rubbish in the form of empty drinks bottles and cans, empty crisp packets, empty everything packaging is a massive problem. The banks of Oban’s brns are strewn with rubbish as are the verges of streets and roads. It’s disgusting!
I’ve signed Keep Scotland Beautiful’s Litter Pledge and would encourage everyone else to do so as well. See here: http://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/pledge/ — and I live in hope to see a litter-free Scotland soon!
Happy 2010 to you all!
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