BOOMS which were put in Poole Harbour to stop the spread of oil will be removed later this month. 

Nearly one year after the spill from Wytch Farm, a clean up operation remains ongoing by authorities. 

No reports of oil outside of the contaminated area in Ower Bay have been made since April 5, 2023, but assessments continue to be made. 

Investigation and monitoring work performed during 2023 identified impacts on the saltmarsh and reed habitat within a limited area of the southern creek in Ower Bay. 

Remediation work, which included a controlled scraping and removal of sediment and organic matter to allow the habitat to recover, was completed in January. 

Bournemouth Echo:

Dorset Council said “every effort” was made to limit the impact on the features of the area and wildlife surveys were done to limit effects on wildlife. 

Following the completion of this remediation activity there has been a programme of sediment and surface water monitoring analysis.  

This analysis has confirmed the remediation work has been successful and there is no longer contamination in the southern creek area of Ower Bay that presents a risk to the wider harbour area. 

It was because of this it was decided the outer booms could be removed, according to Dorset Council. 

The authority said further monitoring of the site during 2024 and 2025 will be ongoing to assess the recovery of the site. 

As reported, Perenco (the oil firm behind Wytch Farm) estimated 200 barrels of reservoir fluid – made up of 15 per cent crude oil and 85 per cent production fluid – was spilled into the harbour. 

Environmental activists have been calling on action against Perenco since the spill on March 26. 

However, last month it was reported potential legal action against the firm is preventing the publication of findings. 

In the days after the spill, Defra minister Lord Benyon told the House of Lords the government will make sure Perenco will pay for damages. 

The RSPB reported bird species, such as the black-headed gull, Mediterranean gull, shelduck and mute swan, had all been affected by contaminated waters.