Our Coast and Public Health

 
 
Wherever you go in the South West you are never more than 50 miles from the sea. It is the maritime region of the UK, with more than 700 miles of coastline bounded by the English Channel, Atlantic Ocean and Bristol Channel.

The coast of the South West is an income generator, a tourist attraction, a source of food, and has hugepotential for the promotion of physical activity.

However, it also acts as a waste disposal system, has large potential for severe accidentalinjury, and some coastal resorts exhibit high levels of deprivation and its associated problems.

There are, along the coast, many conflicts of interest. This conference aims to identify some ofthose conflicts, and identify how we can work together to increase health benefits whilst minimizingthe risks associated with the coast.

The conference will include a mix of plenary sessions and workshops which will include:

Plenary

  • The coast: How important is it to the South West?
  • Debate: Fish - to eat or not to eat - that is the question!
  • Debate: Water quality and health

Workshops

  • The safety of the fish food chain
  • Seagulls - the new public health risk
  • Coast resorts - implications on health
  • Regulation - who is responsible?
  • Quality of sea water
  • Investigation of outbreaks
  • Emergency planning and coast
  • Global warming
  • Skin cancer
  • Physical activity and the coast
  • Accidents and the coast contamination

Details of how to reserve a place on the conference can be found by downloadingthis .