Langstone Harbour Site of Special Scientific Interest (GB)

Description

Langstone Harbour is an inlet of the English Channel in Hampshire, sandwiched between Portsea Island to the south and west, Hayling Island to the south and east, and Langstone to the north. Geographically it is a ria. It contains Baker's Island (SU694035), North Binness Island (SU692046), South Binness Island (SU698031) and Long Island (SU701041). These are subject to erosion and during the 1990s a seven-year archaeology project took place before their history was lost to the seas.

Together with Chichester Harbour, which is at the other (eastern) side of Hayling Island it is designated as a Special Protection Area for wildlife. West of Portsmouth is Portsmouth Harbour and the three linked harbours are important recreational and conservation areas as well as supporting commercial fishing and shipping. It is administered by the Langstone Harbour Board .

The eastern boundary with Chichester Harbour is defined by an historic causeway known as the wade way, which was originally the only crossing between Hayling Island and the mainland. It is now impassible, having been cut in two by a deep channel for the Portsmouth and Arundel Canal in the 1820s (for further information see Langstone).

On 31 July 2008, a 26 feet (8 m), 7 tonne Northern Bottlenose whale was beached on a mudflat in Langstone Harbour. A rescue operation was carried out to try to save the whale off the south coast of England and managed to free the whale from mudflats using a special lifting pontoon but it remained in shallow water. A decision was made to give the whale a lethal injection as a blood test revealed that it was suffering from kidney failure. If the whale swam into deeper water it could take up to two days to die naturally from renal failure. The whale ended up about 3,000 miles (4,800 km) off course due to its illness.

Coordinates: 50°49′05″N 01°00′30″W / 50.81806°N 1.00833°W / 50.81806; -1.00833