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Topics In Detail

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What type of research does the community want to see happen? The unique situation of Scilly means certain types of research can be carried out here that cannot happen anywhere else. Archipelagos have clear boundaries, which means our community is entirely contained in a specific area, unlike towns on the mainland, for example, where communities may overlap and borders are less defined. This makes Scilly an ideal location for investigative studies focused on small, isolated communities. But what are the issues facing communities like ours? An archipelago like Scilly has a particularly unique set of advantages and disadvantages: sustainability is a major theme in improving island life, from protecting marine ecosystems to revising freight, recycling, housing, and energy resources. In the sections below, we outline some of the topics that were raised in our many conversations and interviews with Scilly’s residents.

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Transport

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Transport is a key part of life on Scilly. Not only does it encompass travel to and from the mainland but inter-island boating and transport on the islands themselves. We are fortunate to have a wide range of transport at our disposal: cars, bikes, boats, walking, and more. However, the number of cars on Scilly means there is a lot of congestion, especially in Hugh Town, contributing to concerns about decarbonisation and the impact of so many vehicles in a small area.

Challenges with the timetabling of inter-island boating (especially in the winter) were frequently identified by local residents. People used to commute to work between islands but this is no longer feasible everyday. Could the timetables be reworked to allow for commuting? This could mean those living on the off-islands could apply for jobs on St Mary’s, which often go unfulfilled due to lack of accommodation.

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The difficulties of travelling to and from the Mainland were also frequently brought up in conversation. Poor weather means an accumulation of missed appointments, and the cost of travel often means island children miss out on opportunities to experience things like visiting the theatre and cities.

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Demographics

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Issues surrounding housing and accommodation are widespread across Cornwall and the South West, and keenly felt on Scilly because of our isolated location. Seasonal workers are vital during the bustling summer months but places for these workers to stay are low in number, meaning hospitality is regularly understaffed. Scilly needs the younger generation to live and work here to support its economy but this is not possible without available, affordable housing. Scilly’s ageing population coupled with an increasing amount of retirees moving here means it is challenging for young people to build a sustainable career for themselves. Furthermore, teenagers are required to attend sixth form on the Mainland due to the secondary school only catering up to GCSEs. Island children return with qualifications they cannot use on Scilly and often choose to move away. This is not very sustainable for the islands in the long term.

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Climate Change 

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Scilly has always been vulnerable to climate change. Erosion can be observed on every island, with rising sea levels and frequent storms swallowing entire coastal paths, making walking routes inaccessible and destroying precious micro-habitats. There is a need for research into the prevention of flooding and drought. Combatting water shortages could mean the modernisation of rainwater collection that works alongside the increasing dry spells in the summer and irregular weather patterns. Addressing the long periods of drought might mean looking into what plants grow here that are resiliant against our weather.

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Waste & Energy

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For Scilly to be sustainable long-term, it needs an improved system for the reduction and better management of waste. Currently waste is transported to the mainland and burned at a large-scale waste to energy plant, with limited recycling and no public composting on the islands. This is neither sustainable nor economical since everything has to be transported off the islands by boat and then onwards to the mainland by road. How can we find the best ways to reduce waste and improve recycling? An audit or overview of the current system could pinpoint the areas we need to improve.

At the moment, Scilly faces high energy costs. Is it possible to harness more natural energy to reduce the cost of ever-increasing bills? This could include solar, wind turbines, and wave power Some of these technologies are early in their development, but they could potentially work on Scilly. Could we even combine the problems surrounding waste and possibly create energy using local resources?

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Marine 

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Research into Scilly’s marine life has taken place for a number of years, but sometimes people feel this research has not always focused on the right issues — they feel that research surrounding Scilly’s ocean could benefit massively from a greater use of local knowledge and expertise. For example, the recent pollock fishing ban has been controversial on Scilly as the ban does not consider the small impact of the small-scale fishing carried out on Scilly in comparison to the wider world. Decisions in the past have been made based on issues on the Mainland and are felt to have failed to take the islands unique situation into consideration. For instance, organisations who travel here to do research may visit the wrong sites or at the wrong time of year, and do not get representative data as a result. For example, a research project that found fewer crawfish at certain locations led to the conclusion that their numbers were declining, but local fisherman have observed the opposite and feel that a more detailed approach, better informed by local knowledge of crawfish behaviour and populations, may lead to the opposite conclusion. 

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Tourism

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Tourism plays a huge role on Scilly during the summer. A wide range of businesses rely on the influx of visitors during these busy months and it is the islands’ main source of income and employment. Tourism affects a wide range of areas, from hospitality, boating, transport hire, and recreational activities — many of which only operate in the summer. But just how sustainable is tourism on Scilly? Can we become an ecotourism destination, making travel to the islands more responsible and environmentally friendly? Ecotourism relies on educating the visitor to make sustainable choices when travelling to local communities. On Scilly, this might mean shopping locally instead of ordering groceries online to reduce the amount of freight and support smaller retail. The idea behind this is to preserve locations to ensure their viability for future generations by having a minimal impact on the natural environment.

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Natural Resources

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Can the islands be more efficiently utilised for better production of natural resources? Scilly relies on freight for food and materials which are not produced on the islands themselves. If we starting looking into the type of plants that can grow here, and how the land can be used, can we scale up eco-projects to work more closely with the natural environment? This could mean natural resources meeting a wide range of local needs like food, crafts, and materials — reducing the necessity for certain supplies to be regularly imported from the mainland. Additionally, the islands are reliant on the mainland for certain skills and professions, but can we develop our own skills and industries and be more self-sufficiant? There are many ways the islands can make better use of the resources we already have — generating our own electricity, growing our own food, collecting water, etc.

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Nature 

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Conservation is a major theme when it comes to sustainability on Scilly. The islands are commonly referred to as a ‘wildlife haven,’ but just how true is this? We are home to a massive range of fauna and flora — from a unique sub-species of the moss carder bee to the rare red-barbed ant. It is important we preserve the nature of the islands for future generations to enjoy. Conservation also applies to the maintenance of habitats and natural resources: are boats producing noise pollution and affecting the behaviour of wildlife, for instance? Do certain aspects of tourism have an effect on our environment? In order to know how to preserve the nature of Scilly we have to ask the right questions.

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