Charges likely for West Coast coral damage

Publication: Sun on Saturday
Paper Section And Page: 3
Paper Date: Sat, Jan 26, 2002
Byline: Terry Ally

The British-registered Motor Yacht Leander

SUBSTANTIAL damage to coral heads was found during a dive survey of anchor damage by the visiting motor yacht Leander yesterday and a report of the findings are to be turned over to police.

Manager of the Folkestone Marine Park John Nicholls said the co-ordinating agencies included the Coastal Zone Management Unit, the Fisheries Division, and the National Conservation Commission.

He added it was likely that any charges to be laid would be made under the Fisheries Act, as was the case last year when the yacht Virginian also caused damage to coral off Heron Bay.

“We did find damage to corals. That area is not a coral reef but coral heads. While we were doing the survey, investigators witnessed new damage being done by the chain of the anchor. The anchor was lodged onto a coral head,” said Nicholls.

He said the question of mooring facilities for these vessels had arisen and recommendations by consultants to establish moorings for vessels of various sizes would be followed.

“Our plan for the remainder of this year and next year for installing buoys is to basically follow the layout recommended by the consultants. They looked at areas they would specifically recommend for the mooring of such yachts and then areas for commercial coastal cruisers,” he said.

The British-registered Leander is one of the biggest and most elegant yachts on the charter market. It was built in 1993 and has state-of-the-art computerised control. The 246-foot vessel has four decks, including a helicopter pad, and is on charter for US$90 000 per day, or $425 000 per week, according to one charter broker.