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Mullion Harbour
On a calm warm summer's evening, sitting on the harbour breakwater eating fish and chips, it is difficult to imagine the ferocity with which the winter storms pound this tiny fishing harbour.
The National Trust acquired Mullion in 1945 principally through a gift from Mr A Meyer. In addition to the harbour itself, the Trust also cares for the winch house at the top of the slipway, which predates the harbour walls, the small picturesque net store on the southern breakwater and the wooden fish cellar on the northern breakwater.
Today, the harbour still supports a small fishing community, with a few boats landing mainly crabs, lobster and crawfish. It is for recreation and quiet enjoyment that most people visit the cove.
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©National Trust
Mullion Harbour Study
Global warming and sea level rise are affecting coastal areas throughout Britain, leaving existing sea defences struggling to provide the same level of protection as in the past. Predictions are that these pressures will continue to increase.
Recognising this threat, the Trust commissioned the Mullion Harbour Study in 2004 to identify future options for the long-term management of the harbour. The research project - conducted by the Halcrow group and BSW Ltd - is part funded with Objective One investment from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The study looked into the structure of the harbour walls, and assessed the cultural and economic impact of the harbour on the surrounding community.
The Trust set up a stakeholder group, an advisory committee including members from Mullion Parish Council, Mullion Harbour Association, local residents, Kerrier District Council, the Environment Agency and other harbour managers in Cornwall.
The Trust hopes that the study will assist other harbour owners, as climate change and sea level rise are not faced by the Trust alone.
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The report - Management options for Mullion Harbour
The Mullion Harbour Study identified a number of possible options for future management:
1. Installation of an offshore breakwater
2. Maintain and repair
3. Managed retreat
Option 1 was rejected as impractical, expensive and environmentally damaging, and the stakeholder group recommended that the Trust adopt a strategy, which combined the other two options.
This will allow residents and visitors to enjoy the harbour for as long as possible, but recognises that, at an unpredictable date in the near or distant future, the cove will revert back to its original state of an undeveloped bay.
After Easter 2006, a programme of works costing over £150,000 will start to repair the harbour from winter damage and the Trust will then continue a structured inspection and maintenance programme, at an estimated cost of at least £5,000 each year.
Once maintenance and repair is no longer deemed viable, the managed retreat phase will begin. In this phase, regular maintenance of the breakwaters will cease and the Trust will systematically remove the breakwaters whilst consolidating the inner harbour walls.
However, the timescale for the move to managed retreat cannot be pinpointed, as it depends on when and how the ultimate extreme storm event or series of events occur.
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