New pictures taken by diving instructor Keith McKay appear to show the extent of life in Ramsey Bay, where a proposed marina is facing harsh criticism from local residents.

The photographs depict various species of fish, coral and eelgrass (commonly known as seagrass) across the South Bay sea floor, in and around the area which in theory could be developed.

The planning proposals would see the beach between the Queen’s Pier and the Stone Pier given to private development, to create a 400-berth yacht marina with a new breakwater, residential and commercial developments, landscaped gardens, and new yachting facilities including a yacht club.

A Facebook group has been created entitled ’Save the Bay’ and an associated petition was launched last week, which has already reached over 12,500 signatures, something which Geoff Court, a member of the group, described as ’mind blowing’.

passionately

Mr Court said: ’People care so passionately about it, and it just shows across the island. People just are not willing to see a public space be surrendered in this way.’

The group ultimately opposes the development as they argue you would lose the public beach alongside causing damage to the marine life in the area.

Mr Court said: ’It is a protected marine nature reserve, and previous government studies have said that not only would a development of exactly this nature be of great detriment to the visual amenity of the location, it would also be incredibly environmentally damaging.

’That was DEFA’s own assessment from a steering group they held in 2010. Subsequently, nine years later, they did a survey to find that the eelgrass in that area has spread and thrived.

’If you care about climate change and our status as a biosphere, eelgrass is 35 times more effective at carbon capture than a rainforest tree - so it’s incredibly important to our biosphere status.’

Ramsey Bay Marina Ltd states on its website: ’The promoters of the marina are very much aware of the Ramsey Bay Marine Conservation Area, and wish to enhance the local environmental aspects as much as possible...

’The marina intends to qualify for the British Marine Federation top environmental accreditation - known as the Gold Anchor Scheme. In short, the marina will greatly enhance Ramsey Bay’s environmental credentials.’

However, Save the Bay has argued that the process of building the marina in the first place will cause irreparable damage.

Mr Court stated that in order to reclaim the sand: ’You need to scrape it of all of the life that is there, and the response that "Well hopefully once the marina is there new life will come back" [is] a big if, especially with the pollution involved with the 400-berth marina, and eelgrass certainly does not thrive in that area, and if the eelgrass does not thrive, the fish species won’t thrive.’

He added: ’I think its disingenuous to suggest that the life in and around the vicinity of the Queen’s Pier would not be adversely affected by an ecological shift of that scale.’

The Isle of Man Examiner contacted Ramsey Marina Ltd regarding Save the Bay’s accusations and spoke to David Dorricott, who declined the opportunity to comment.