Tees Estuary - summary

The Tees Estuary was one of the first sites to throw into sharp relief the conflict between conservation requirements and commercial development. The estuary had already lost some 95% of its saltmarsh and mudflats to industrial and port development by 1971. Despite vigorous opposition from conservationists the remaining 175 ha of Seal Sands was designated for further port development in a Bill approved by the UK Parliament in the 1970s (Evans et al. 1979).

The loss of habitat had important implications for wintering waterfowl. Though provision was made for alternative areas to be set aside and developed for wildlife, no suitable sites were found. In 1989 a comprehensive plan, involving reclamation of a relatively small area of intertidal land, was proposed which resulted in the establishment of a major part of the remaining area of Seal Sands and North Gare Sands as a National Nature Reserve. In 1993 a new intertidal area was created from a nearly freshwater pool to create supplementary feeding areas for the birds using the estuary.

Comment: See also Cardiff Bay where amenity considerations resulted in the loss of an estuary and the creation of new habitat nearby.

References

Evans, P.R., Knights, D.M. & Pienkowski, M.W. 1979. Short-term effects of reclamation of part of Sea Sands, Teesmouth, on wintering waders and shelduck. Oecologia, 41., 183-206.