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Mon 07 Jul 2007Sea rescue servicesTwo events involving our marine rescue services over the past week have illustrated the complex attitude we share, as islanders, to the sea around us. The accidental discovery of bales of cocaine off the south-west coast after an emergency call-out is a reminder of the vulnerable nature of our 4,350km coastline to illegal trading in narcotics.There have been many warnings about this vulnerability in the past. During the trial over the seizure of €25 million worth of cannabis on the yacht Brimeoff Clare in 1993, the west coast was described as the easiest in Europe for this type of activity.