Latest news with #SarahComish
BBC News
24-05-2025
- BBC News
Isle of Man farmers' 'Respect our livelihoods' plea to TT fans
Farmers have implored motorsport fans visiting the Isle of Man for the TT festival to "respect their livelihoods" amid warnings about foot and mouth disease (FMD).The Manx National Farmers Union (MNFU) issued the plea due to a growing outbreak of the disease in this year, restrictions were put in place on the island which ban the importation of meat and dairy products for personal use from anywhere outside of Great secretary Sarah Comish said she was concerned both about the highly contagious nature of the disease and the fact that there will be "so many people travelling from Europe to the island" for the two-week festival. FMD is a highly infectious virus that causes blisters inside an animal's mouth and under their hooves, and can cause lameness and problems Comish said that while the threat level "now seemed to be under control" it remained vital for travellers not to bring dairy and meat products to the Isle of also asked TT spectators not to leave any food waste lying often watch the racing from farmland, added Ms Comish, "so it is just about respecting the environment you are in". 'Huge impact' An FMD outbreak would have a "huge impact" on livestock farmers, said Ms Comish, since the Isle of Man is "heavily dependent on export trade". The TT festival was cancelled in 2001 following outbreaks of the disease in the week saw the first seizure of meat and dairy products brought in from kilograms of meat and 800g of cheese found in a campervan were confiscated by customs and immigration officers in seizure could lead to a "significant fine" if the matter proceeds to court, the government recent discovery of bluetongue disease "right next door" in Lancashire has also "caused worry" in the Isle of Man's farming community, said Ms disease can cause cattle to become infertile and even be it is spread by midge bites, its spread is "more difficult to control", she added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
02-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Signage reminds walkers to respect the Manx countryside
People have been reminded to act responsibly while enjoying the countryside on the Isle of Man as lambing season Manx National Farmers' Union has created signs to highlight the Countryside Code, which includes advice to leave gates as you find them and keep dogs on secretary Sarah Comish said the rules existed to "protect livestock and farmland" and the signage aimed to provide a greater understanding of the guidance would be an "immense help to people who are farming and taking care of the lambs", she said. The posters remind residents and visitors to stick to established footpaths, to take any litter home, not to feed livestock and to give them also encourage those who see an animal in distress to contact the farmer or landowner, rather than try to step in to help. 'Protect the natural order' The union has urged those who find lambs on their own not to remove them, as they often shelter or rest while their is grazing nearby and therefore "had not been abandoned".Ms Comish said it was "really important to protect the natural order" as separating a lamb from its mother broke the bond between the said the "vast majority" of people who went out in the Manx countryside and used the footpaths "don't go out with the intention to cause harm".It was hoped the signage would help to develop "respect for people who have a livelihood on the land and for the animals that are living out there". Members of the farming community have been encouraged to contact the union for a free sign to display on their gates, to promote the details of the code. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
