by CARLOS ATWELL

UNUSUALLY HIGH and choppy seas have damaged the Speightstown Jetty which was recently repaired.

Yesterday, a DAILY NATION team went to Speightstown and saw the damage first-hand. As the tide rose, the sea surged over the jetty pushing a number of planks out of place.

Fish were washed up on the beach by the rough seas.

A fisherman, who declined to give his name, said "the sea has taken up to 12 to 15 feet of beach in some areas".

At Pile Bay, Brighton, St Michael, the fishermen did not have any problems.

One said it was not a serious situation for them, as two or three boats had already gone out to sea.

The Barbados Meteorological Services, which has issued a three-day weather bulletin and high surf and small craft advisory, said a low pressure system in the mid-Atlantic would affect the north and west coasts with ten to 15-foot waves and dangerous rip currents.

The bulletin also predicted potential significant beach erosion and warned surfers, swimmers and sunbathers to stay away from the ocean and the beach.

However, coastal planner Fabian Hinds of the Coastal Zone Management Unit, said it was usual for the sea levels to rise around this time of year and they expected some erosion.

". . . Although I haven't had any reports.

"We would normally go and take photographic record, but beaches normally return to normal after oceanographic conditions subside," he said.

Consultant with the Professional Water Sports Association of Barbados, Austin Husbands, said the weather was preventing water sports operators from heading out to sea, but it was not a problem as it was usually slow for them at this time of year.

"It is affecting us, but there is not a lot of business now anyway, as the first week of November is usually slow.

"Fortunately, we are now getting back to the point where visitors are coming back into the island. So hopefully by next week the rough seas will be done," he said.

Husbands, who is also the deputy chairman of the Barbados Tourism Authority, said operators were in the process of refurbishing and called the weather "a bit of relief" as it gave them time to make their preparations. (CA)