Topic analysis

Stern warning: one man’s mission to clear the rotting boats poisoning Cornwall’s creeks

Steve Green, a Cornwall-based boat engineer, leads Clean Ocean Sailing in removing 166 abandoned fiberglass yachts from the Helford and Fal rivers, where decaying vessels release toxic fiberglass shards—compared to asbestos by marine biologists—that harm marine life by embedding in sea creatures and entering the food chain. Green faces steep disposal costs (up to £3,000 per yacht), relies on charitable grants, crowdfunding, and volunteers, and advocates for a French-style system where boat manufacturers pay eco-contributions to fund free scrapping centers, addressing a UK-wide issue of end-of-life fiberglass boats abandoned by owners unable or unwilling to cover disposal expenses.