CORNWALL Wildlife Trust (CWT) has raised fresh concerns over the proposed £150 million redevelopment of Falmouth Docks, saying there could be a risk of introducing highly toxic pollutants into the Fal Estuary and Falmouth Bay during dredging.

Falmouth Docks and Engineering Company (FDEC) and A&P Falmouth Ltd (since bought by Balaena) has applied to Cornwall Council for planning permission, and to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) for a licence, to build new wharves, create a new area to build floating offshore windfarms and enhance berth capacity for alongside docking for improved cruise and cargo capacity.

If approved, the £150 million proposal could see up to 200,000 passengers visit the port every year by 2030, which, in turn, could boost the local economy by an additional £13 million and create more than 350 jobs.

The work would involve partial demolition of existing wharf structures and the demolition of eight buildings currently on the site. More controversial is the dredging around the wharfs to allow cruise ships to dock alongside.

Investigations of environmental data by CWT staff suggest sediment contamination testing for planned dredging operations could be far too limited to reliably identify sediments unsafe for disposal at sea; therefore, the risk of introducing highly toxic pollutants into the Fal Estuary and Falmouth Bay during dredging remains unacceptable.

It believes data from three quarters of core samples taken across the site suggests contaminant concentrations unsafe for disposal at sea, with heavy metals including mercury, zinc, lead, copper and tributyl tin found at levels up to 176 times higher than safe thresholds.

Balaena, which took over the running of Falmouth Docks in June, says sampling was done in accordance with the regulator’s requirements and that all dredging activity is strictly regulated by the Marine Management Organisation and will be carried out in accordance with all relevant licence conditions.

Protesters say the dredging of 850,000 tonnes of “polluted seabed” poses an unacceptable risk to the environment, public health and the local economy.

Around 130 people attended a recent public meeting organised by the Stop the Dredge campaign, including commercial fishermen, native oyster fishers, local business owners and residents. Many raised concerns that contaminated sediment could be carried by tides through important fishing grounds if dredging is not managed with sufficient care, potentially affecting the Fal’s internationally renowned native oyster fishery as well as crab, lobster, scallop and other shellfish fisheries.

Last year, members of the Ocean Rebellion action group staged a protest at Falmouth harbour last year, wearing gas masks to symbolise the “toxic threat” posed by the proposed redevelopment of the docks.

Dr Dan Barrios-O’Neill, head of marine conservation at Cornwall Wildlife Trust, said: “We understand the docks need redevelopment. The docks are an important employer and a vital part of Falmouth’s history, culture and identity. We do not want to see the docks decline, but redevelopment must be done carefully and in a way that protects this extraordinary marine environment for future generations.

“Sediment sampling carried out in preparation for the project appears inadequate, lacking the resolution needed to reliably determine which areas are dangerously contaminated and which are safe for disposal at sea.

“Right now, the data simply cannot assure us that the organisations in charge can redevelop the docks in a safe and sustainable way.”

The Trust warns that if dredging is not undertaken exceptionally carefully, contaminated sediments could be disturbed, allowing toxic chemicals to enter the water column and spread through the estuary, potentially affecting the wider Fal, Falmouth Bay and offshore disposal grounds.

The Government has designated the MMO as the lead environmental regulator for the project through a fast-tracked process. Cornwall Wildlife Trust says that while it understands the need to improve and secure the future of the docks, accelerating decisions must not come at the expense of robust environmental scrutiny.

Dr Barrios-O’Neill added: “Speeding up decisions must not mean weakening environmental safeguards, particularly in an area like the Fal. The marine ecosystems here are nationally important, supporting irreplaceable maerl beds, seagrass meadows, kelp forests and the Fal’s unique and important sustainable native oyster fishery.

“If dredging is not done right, the impacts could be far and wide. The incredible wildlife and habitats that led to this area receiving international protection could be damaged, putting at risk both the marine environment and the local livelihoods of many people, from the traditional oyster fishers working in the Carrick Roads, to the trawlers in Falmouth Bay, to wildlife tour operators in Falmouth.”

The Fal and Helford Special Area of Conservation is internationally important for biodiversity and blue carbon habitats, including England’s largest and best maerl beds and extensive seagrass meadows. It is also home to extensive and dense kelp forests and Europe’s only remaining traditional native oyster fishery. Species protected under the Wildlife and Countryside act 1981 including native oyster, giant goby and the spiny seahorse.

The estuary and bay are also home to protected cetaceans such as common dolphin, harbour porpoise, Rissos dolphins, fin whales, many important seabird species and Atlantic grey seals. CWT says these species all depend upon the health of the estuary, alongside important commercial fish and shellfish species including lobster, brown crab, scallops, bass, pollack, thornback rays, and many more.

CWT says the area is already under pressure from climate change, declining water quality, agricultural run-off and increasing human activity, adding that contaminated sediment released during dredging could place further stress on ecosystems that are already vulnerable.

Matt Slater, CWT marine conservation officer, added: “The area of the dredge is 232,500 metres squared – this is equivalent to 32 football pitches, within this large area only 21 sample cores have been analysed. The huge areas between the samples mean that there could be contamination hotspots that have simply been missed.

“When disturbing deep sediments like this that have built up over centuries, it is impossible to eliminate the risk of creating plumes of disturbed silt which would be carried with tidal currents, spreading new contamination with a huge impact on marine life.”

The Trust is also concerned about the potential impact of approximately 50 weeks of pile driving during construction. It says underwater noise could significantly affect harbour porpoises, dolphins and seals that regularly use the estuary, with more recent acoustic monitoring indicating marine mammal activity is greater than is reflected in the application’s environmental statement.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust has previously submitted a ‘holding objection’ to the MMO, citing concerns over contaminated sediments, underwater construction noise and the potential impacts on protected habitats and marine wildlife.

Further environmental analysis is expected in the coming weeks, while Cornwall Council’s strategic planning committee is due to make a decision on the shoreside planning application for the scheme on Thursday, August 20.

Balaena, the statutory harbour authority for Falmouth Docks, told us it has a legal responsibility to maintain and develop the port’s infrastructure while ensuring the safe navigation of vessels serving Cornwall.

A spokesperson said: “For the last seven years, Balaena has worked closely with industry partners and regulatory bodies to develop a long-term infrastructure programme that will safeguard the future of Falmouth Docks. This programme is designed to strengthen the port’s role in supporting the UK’s defence, marine services, commercial cargo, floating offshore wind and tourism sectors.

“As part of this programme, it has been determined that some targeted pocket dredging is required around the dock berths. The proposed dredging has been subject to a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment, which concluded that the works can be undertaken safely and without adverse impacts on the marine environment. Sampling was done in accordance with the regulator’s requirements.

“All dredging activity is strictly regulated by the Marine Management Organisation and will be carried out in accordance with all relevant licence conditions. Importantly, the scheme avoids any dredging in the main docks channel or the wider estuary in order to protect the maerl habitat in the area. Any material that is not suitable for disposal at sea will be removed to a licenced facility ashore.

“Dredging is a routine and essential activity undertaken at ports across the United Kingdom. It ensures that navigational channels and berths remain safe and operational, supporting the movement of vessels, protecting maritime infrastructure and enabling ports to continue serving the needs of the national economy.

“By modernising essential infrastructure, the project will help ensure the port remains fit for purpose for decades to come, safeguarding skilled jobs, creating apprenticeship opportunities and supporting businesses across Cornwall and the wider South West, while strengthening Falmouth’s strategic contribution to the UK’s maritime economy.”