Youths Urged to Avoid Jumping from Somerset Harbour Walls Amid Rising Boat Traffic

Somerset’s harbour master has issued a warning to local youths against jumping off the harbour walls in Minehead and Watchet, as increased boat traffic raises safety concerns. Both harbours experience an influx of pleasure craft during the summer, with Watchet Marina notably thriving under new management.

Captain Jessica Tyson, acting harbour master for the ports of Bridgwater, Minehead, and Watchet, highlighted frequent reports of young people leaping off the harbour ends, risking serious injury or even death. Somerset Council, responsible for all county ports, is adopting a collaborative, gentle approach to address these safety issues.

Speaking at a harbour management advisory committee meeting in Taunton on July 28, Captain Tyson acknowledged that while such jumps may seem like harmless fun, they are increasingly dangerous due to the busy boating activity. “We do have signage up there,” she explained, “but the problem, particularly in Watchet, is youths jumping off the band tower right where boats enter.”

She emphasized that with more vessels entering the harbours, the chance of collisions or accidents grows significantly. To tackle this, harbour officers are working closely with local police, the RNLI, and council communications teams to raise public awareness about the risks involved.

“This isn’t about spoiling fun,” Captain Tyson said, “it’s about keeping everyone safe. A collision involving a boat could be traumatic not only for those injured but also for the operators and families involved.”

In addition to jumping concerns, the harbour master flagged other safety issues, such as fishing lines becoming entangled with incoming vessels, which pose dangers to navigation. While by-laws exist, enforcing them remains a challenge at present.

Through community engagement and education, Somerset Council aims to protect all harbour users and prevent potentially tragic incidents during the busy summer months.