Ms D.Vine -- Conservation ?

English Nature are lobbying anyone that will listen that certain marinas should become SSSIs. This would mean getting rid of the boats of course! One commentator who declined to be named put it like this:-

English Nature and a few other conservation bodies are miffed that there is more wildlife in many of the eco-friendly marinas built in the early noughties, than there is in their own reserves. As you can imagine this is highly embarrassing and EN et al are trying to keep this quiet, For years they have objected to canal restoration, but it seems the wildlife isn't that bothered about the odd passing boat. Indeed some have observed that by stirring up the bottom they actually do bottom feeding fish such as carp and barbel a favour.

Certain independent bodies have observed that several marinas sampled were found to be teaming with wildlife despite the presence of 200+ boats. EN have, of course, refused to comment on this.