Many people perceive the waters of the Clyde to be dark, murky, and barren; however, Jason Coles of Dunoon-based Wreckspeditions told members of the Bute Museum last Tuesday evening that this perception is far from accurate.
Up until the early 1900s, the Clyde was recognised as one of the most active shipping routes in the world.
As a result of this activity, the Firth of Clyde’s waterways are home to a multitude of shipwrecks.
There are also the remains of 200 highball bouncing bombs, tested in Loch Striven as part of the preparations for the renowned raid on the Tirpitz battleship in 1944.
Jason described just a few of the wrecks situated nearer to Bute.
The steamer Wallachia sank in 1895 with a cargo of gin, whisky, and beer.
The wreck lies close to the Wemyss Bay to Rothesay ferry route.
Then there is the Kintyre, a passenger steamship which sank after a collision with another ship just north of Wemyss Bay pier in 1907.
The largest and best-preserved of the wrecks is the Akka, which ran aground on the Gantock Rocks near Dunoon in 1956.
Divers have observed that it appears almost alive, as it is covered with masses of brittle stars.
In addition to the shipwrecks, the natural coastal environment, characterised by island bays, underwater cliffs, and reefs, provides a hugely diverse habitat for the marine life of the Clyde.
A variety of species can be found, including starfish, sea anemones, nudibranchs, scallops, octopuses, soft corals, and sponges, among others.
The low light levels, from weather conditions and disturbed silt, allow many creatures typically found at greater depths to inhabit shallower waters.
There are several protected sea areas within the Firth, ensuring that human activity does not negatively impact marine habitats and species.
Jason has noticed that in these conserved and closely monitored regions, marine life, in general, is much more prolific.
He regularly observes the conditions beneath the water’s surface and, together with his wife Clare, Jason volunteers with Ghost Fishing UK, an organisation dedicated to safeguarding wildlife from the dangers posed by lost or abandoned fishing gear that can ensnare marine creatures.
They retrieve and release these creatures from entanglements in lines, netting, and other obstacles.
There are hundreds of missing creels in the Firth of Clyde, and this lost equipment continues to capture marine life.
Wildlife is needlessly trapped and killed by ghost fishing gear.
Jason’s talk was a fascinating insight into the role of a local diving school in terms of recreation, education, and nature conservation.
The next talk at Bute Museum will be at 7:30 p.m. on January 7, when the speaker will be Matthew Young from Linn Botanic Garden, Helensburgh.
