Menai Straits Oil Pollution Incident

An estimated 300 gallons of a mix of diesel, generator fluid and fuel heating oil leaked into the Menai Strait from a pipe leading from a waste water treatment works on the site of the Friction Dynamics factory at Griffiths Crossing, Caernarfon on Sunday, 25^th June, 2006.

The slick, extending from the Britannia Bridge to Abermenai, was reported by a yachtsman early on Sunday morning. The heavy oil was deposited on the tide line either side of the pipe while the lighter oil remained on the surface.

The pipe serves as the western boundary of one of the lays of the Menai (West) Oyster, Mussel and Clam Order. The remainder of the lays within the Order are situated directly opposite on the Anglesey side of the Menai Strait. Pacific oysters in sacks on trestles appear to be unaffected as do the shellfish lays on the northern side of the Menai Strait.

NW&NWSFC officers informed the layholders of the incident. Immediately after receiving reports of the incident, NW&NWSFC officers worked closely with other bodies including the MCA, Gwynedd Council, the Caernarfon Harbour Trust, the Environment Agency and CCW. The mouth of the pipe was blocked to prevent further leakage. NW&NWSFC officers continue to monitor the area particularly the shellfish lays and fisheries.

All photographs below taken at low water on Sunday 25th June, 2006.

Second Menai Straits Oil Pollution Incident

A second oil slick was reported in the Menai Strait early in the morning of Sunday 9th July. It came from the same source as the first spill on 25th June, an outfall leading from the site of the Friction Dynamics factory at Griffiths Crossing, Caernarfon. The latest oil spill is claimed to be due to heavy rain on the Saturday night scouring the pipe and washing down residual oil remaining from the first spill. A boom was positioned across the pipe to prevent further oil from entering the Menai Strait.

NW&NWSFC officers informed shellfish layholders of the incident and continue to monitor the area particularly the shellfish lays and fisheries.

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