Following yesterday’s collision between a tanker and cargo vessel off the coast of East Yorkshire resulting in fires aboard both vessels, HM Coastguard is issuing updates here: Vessels incident off coast of East Yorkshire | HM Coastguard UK.

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust care for large stretches of the coast bordering the North Sea in the area where the accident happened. These Wildlife Trusts also work to protect the marine life offshore in the affected area. Both Wildlife Trusts are deeply concerned about the potential impact that resulting pollution could have on internationally important seabird colonies, grey seals and the wealth of other marine life such as harbour porpoise, fish and minke whale that live beneath the waves.

Wildlife and important nature areas that could be affected include:

• Humber estuary: Important fish populations and 140,000 birds use the mud flats of the Humber estuary. Wilder Humber is a significant marine restoration programme in the Humber – Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust are planting seagrass and restoring oysters to improve the habitat and ecosystem of this important estuary. The Humber Estuary has the highest level of international and domestic protection as a Special Protection Area, Special Area of Conservation and Site of Special Scientific Interest.
   
• Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s renowned Spurn National Nature Reserve and Flamborough Cliffs nature reserve are nearby. Spurn Point sits within the Humber Estuary and is an internationally-important stop-off for migratory birds. The reserve supports the Trust’s Wilder Humber seagrass and oyster reintroduction programme, roosting waders, and rare breeding little terns, and the surrounding sea regularly sees marine mammals such as seals and porpoises. Flamborough Cliffs forms one of Europe’s most important breeding seabird colonies, including being part of the largest mainland breeding puffin colony in the UK and the sea off Flamborough is designated as a Marine Protected Area. Both reserves provide important feeding and resting places during spring and autumn bird migrations. (More on marine protected areas and what they mean).
   
• Donna Nook National Nature Reserve is cared for by Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and is famous for its large colony of grey seals. The pupping season has just finished at the reserve and pups are hauled out on the sandbanks off-shore – 1,649 were born there this season. The reserve is also known for its array of bird life with over 250 species recorded there including snow bunting, redshank and lapwing.
   
• Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes – another extensive coastal nature reserve cared for by Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust contains tidal sand and mudflats, salt and freshwater marshes and sand dunes – this important site is very important for birds such as shore lark, curlew and Brent geese.

Martin Slater, Director of Operations at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust says:

“Our thoughts are with everyone immediately involved in the accident and the emergency response operation. This is obviously a very worrying incident and we’re following developments closely, including waiting to see if there is any pollution into the North Sea.

"East Yorkshire’s coast is home to protected and significant colonies of seabirds including puffins, razorbills, gannets and kittiwakes. Many birds are gathering offshore on the sea ahead of the nesting season and we still have wintering waders – plus migrant birds stopping here – so we’re very worried indeed about the threat to these birds. Also, there are significant numbers of Atlantic grey seals in the area, many rearing this year’s young, as well as porpoises and other cetaceans around Spurn.

"If pollution spillage enters the Humber, this could potentially be devasting for the wildlife of the estuary, including important fish populations and tens of thousands of overwintering and migrating birds who use the mud flats.”  

Tammy Smalley, Head of Conservation, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, says:

“The north Lincolnshire coast is at risk which includes our special – and vast – nature reserves, Donna Nook and Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes. The area is home to internationally important populations of seabirds and seals, and fragile habitats including saltmarsh, mudflats and seagrass meadows.

“Depending on wind direction and contaminants, we are also concerned about the Silver Pit Marine Conservation Zone farther offshore – a unique habitat for fish where seabirds and cetaceans feed. Much of the Lincolnshire coast offshore is within marine protected areas for habitat features such as sub-tidal sand dunes.

“Although the grey seals at Donna Nook are not currently pupping, the seals including juveniles are still in the area. They haul out on sand banks offshore and feed in the wider North Sea area.”

The public are urged to stay away from this part of the coast and these sites while the investigation continues.