<body><div><p>Jonathan Morris</p><p>BBC News, South West</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=43pEgn_0vGV5h4C00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=43pEgn_0vGV5h4C00" width="1536" height="858" ><figcaption>A pilot project successfully stripped an abandoned boat at Dartmouth</figcaption></figure><p>More abandoned boats are being targeted for recycling after a successful pilot project in south Devon, the local authority has said.</p><p>Boats are regularly reported as abandoned, sunk or stranded within the Dart, Salcombe-Kingsbridge and Yealm estuaries, said South Hams District Council.</p><p>"This is having an environmental and financial impact on the marine community," it said.</p><p>After stripping a boat which had been abandoned on the Dart in March, the council said it was exploring "future opportunities to address the issue on a larger scale".</p><h2>'Great deal learned'</h2><p>The council worked with Creekside Boatyard in Dartmouth and industry partners on the pilot project to dismantle a sailing boat and look at ways to recycle or reuse as many component parts as possible.</p><p>The successful disassembly, reuse and recycling of the fibreglass boat "proved to be time efficient, and a great deal was learned during the process", the council said in a report.</p><p>Component parts ranged from stainless steel rigging and bronze winches to the boat’s engine and electronics. </p><h2>'Financial impact'</h2><p>Councillor John McKay, the council's executive member for climate change and biodiversity, said it wanted to work more closely with "industry partners, harbour authorities, marinas and boat builders". </p><p>He said: "They are the ones who feel more closely the financial and environmental impact of end-of-life boats sitting in their waters and getting in the way of their day-to-day work."</p><p>Anyone who spots an abandoned boat can report it on the Royal Yachting Association's Green Blue website.</p></div></body>

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Plans to recycle more abandoned boats

More abandoned boats are being targeted for recycling after a successful pilot project in south Devon, the local authority has said. Boats are regularly reported as abandoned, sunk or stranded within the Dart, Salcombe-Kingsbridge and Yealm estuaries, said South Hams District Council. \"This is having an environmental and financial impact...

More abandoned boats are being targeted for recycling after a successful pilot project in south Devon, the local authority has said. Boats are regularly reported as abandoned, sunk or stranded within the Dart, Salcombe-Kingsbridge and Yealm estuaries, said South Hams District Council. "This is having an environmental and financial impact...

Plans to recycle more abandoned boats

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