Poole Harbour pollution incident

A pipeline from an oilfield that leaked into a harbour has been sealed, the harbour's commissioners have said.

About 200 barrels of oily water escaped from the pipeline, operated by Perenco, into Poole Harbour on 26 March.

Poole Harbour Commissioners (PHC) said 30 "slightly oiled" birds had now been spotted but added there had been no serious casualties.

The RSPB previously reported 15 birds with oil smudges had been spotted in the bay the day after the leak.

These included black-headed gulls, Mediterranean gulls, shelduck and mute swans.

PHC said 140,000 litres of oily water has so far been recovered along with five tonnes of polluted beach and soil material.

The operation of 11 booms to contain the flow was "proving successful", it added.

It said clean-up work was continuing "non-stop" in Ower Bay and also along the Goathorn and Arne peninsulas.

The leak came from Wytch Farm, an oil field and processing facility that produces about 14,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
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The public have been urged to continue to avoid using the harbour.