From left to right: Harry Stanton, Toby Miller, Harvey Robinson, Célia Stachowiak, Rachael Taylor, Carole Brennan, Sean Kear, Emily Hoad, Matt Clamp

The Fal estuary is a drowned river (‘Ria’) in the western Cornish Fal catchment; extending 29km south from the source at Goss Moor, with freshwater inputs from the Tresillian and Truro rivers, emptying into the third largest natural harbour in the world at Falmouth (West County Rivers Trust, 2009).

At the end of the last glaciation period, significant sea level rise led to the flooding of the catchment area and formation of a steep depth gradient between the main channel and extending catchment in the lower stage. Anthropogenic impacts include dredging activities, oil, sewage outlets and release of anti-fouling, which pose potential threats to the site; with smaller discharges in the upper stage to influence biochemistry on a local level (Bryan and Langston, 1992).

Not only are the catchment areas significant for it’s socioeconomic importance for localised shellfish fisheries and trading shipments, but also for the unique marine and wetland habitats.

recognition as a Special Area of Conservation since 2005 [5], with relation to it’s historic topographic formation.

From the 4th to the 14th of July 2017 spatial and temporal data was collected from physical and biochemical samples, which were gathered in the mid-lower stages of the river, as well as offshore, on various vessels. Via analysis of the data, it was possible to formulate an overview of the physical and biochemical properties of the site and draw these conclusion with acknowledgement of pollutant sources, chemical exposure and biological impact from bioaccumulation to a community-level response.

These unique habitats are derived from the following predominant substrate composites:

● Marine areas, Sea inlets (60%)

● Tidal rivers, Estuaries, Mud flats, Sand flats, Lagoons (35%)

● Salt marshes, Salt pastures, Salt steppes (3%)

● Shingle, Sea cliffs, Islets (1%)

These substrates (Joint Nature Conservation Committee, 2017), along with a low freshwater input characterise the site by a wide range of fully marine habitats with subsequent high biodiversity; including iconic wildlife such as the calcareous algae known as Maerl (Joint Nature Conservation Committee, 2015). In recent years, this has given the catchment site recognition as a Special Area of Conservation since 2005 (Langston, W.J. et al., 2017), with relation to it’s historic topographic formation.

From the 4th to the 14th of July 2017 spatial and temporal data was collected from physical and biochemical samples, which were gathered in the mid-lower stages of the river, as well as offshore, on various vessels. Via analysis of the data, it was possible to formulate an overview of the physical and biochemical properties of the site and draw these conclusion with acknowledgement of pollutant sources, chemical exposure and biological impact from bioaccumulation to a community-level response.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the contributors and do not reflect the views and opinions of the University of Southampton

Bryan, G. W. & W. J. Langston, 1992. Bioavailability, accumulation and effects of heavy metals in sediments with special reference to United Kingdom estuaries: a review. Environmental Pollution 76: 89–131.

Joint Nature Conservation Committee, 2017. Fal and Helford[online] [viewed 12 Jul 2017]. Available from: http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/ProtectedSites/SACselection/sac.asp?EUCode=UK0013112

Joint Nature Conservation Committee, 2015. Maerl beds [online] [viewed 12 Jul 2017]. Available from: http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-6023

Langston, W.J. et al., 2017. Characterisation of the European Marine Sites in South West England: The Fal and Helford Candidate Special Area of Conservation (CSAC)[online] [viewed 12 Jul 2017]. Available from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10750-005-1128-y

West County Rivers Trust, 2009. Fal River Catchment[online] [viewed 12 Jul 2017]. Available from: http://www.cornwallriversproject.org.uk/geography/fal.html

Figure 1. Map showing the Fal estuary and sample locations

-Admiralty Chart of Falmouth From visitmyharbour.com, accessed 10/07/17