Dingle harbour has been classed as littered in the annual survey of coasts and inland waterways by business group Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL).
The survey found the majority of areas received a ‘clean’ status, however, three locations in Kerry surveyed failed to receive that status.
33 beaches, harbours, rivers and their immediate environs were monitored by An Taisce on behalf of IBAL in June and July.
17 were deemed ‘clean’, a 50% rise on the previous survey, while the number of areas branded ’littered’ fell from 11 to just three. No area was placed in the lowest category “heavily littered”.
In Kerry, Ballybunion and Portmagee harbour were both classed as ‘moderately littered’, while Dingle harbour fell into the ‘littered’ category, although it was noted that not much effort is required to lift Dingle from this status.
The An Taisce report for Ballybunion beach stated the parking and access areas were presented well, with only minor items such as cigarette butts and wooden utensils. The remainder of the litter appeared on the tide line and near the rock armour - there was a mix of food related items, fishing lines, nets, buoys and ropes. The report praised the Ballybunion Beach Toy Box which invites the public to borrow and return toys, and it stated the recycle facility and immediate environs were freshly presented.
An Taisce stated while Portmagee is a freshly presented environment, with colourful seating, marine themed murals and very good signage, accumulations of cigarette butts had gathered at the base of wooden picnic tables. Other litter items such as coffee cups, fast-food wrappers, sweet papers, wooden food utensils and lollipop sticks were also present, however, not in large quantities.
At Dingle Harbour, An Taisce found the planted areas, seating, information notice boards and litter bins presented well, but there was a definite litter presence, both land-based and within the water and rock armour. Both food and drink related items and marine ropes and netting were found in the water and rock armour. Levels of cigarette butts were pronounced within the parking area to the east of the marina, along with alcohol containers, plastic bottles and other marine related litter.
An Taisce stated it seems there was a shortage of litter bins along the harbour area and any light land-based litter can quickly make its way into the water with a large gust of wind. There were also some incidences of dog fouling, with limited opportunities for the depositing of same.
