We’ve all been there: a bright day at the beach, lulling waves, sand underfoot and then . . . a crisps bag . . . a yogurt lid. According to the 2009 UN Environmental Programme report on marine waste, the astronomical amount of flotsam we generate is more than just a holiday-wrecker, it causes millions of pounds of damage to vessels, fisheries, wildlife, tourism and the economy in the UK, and the problem shows no signs of improvement.
Some statistics from the report that will make you permanently disavow romantic walks on beaches: in our region an average of 542 items of marine litter were discovered per 100 meters of beach; 60 of these were sanitary waste (bleck!) and most of it (around 75%) is plastic. So much plastic, in fact, that 94% of our seabirds (fulmars, to be exact) are now part plastic from eating the stuff. Want to take a dip? Samples from the North Sea show concentrations of tiny plastic particles around 150-2400 per square meter, and the consequences of that are . . . ? Well scientists just don’t know for certain yet.
For those unmoved by the demise of trash-gobbling birds, the cost should be sobering. Sunken nets and debris cost regional fishermen around £120 million annually in “ghost fishing,” and 69% of Shetland fishermen surveyed reported having a catch irrepairably contaminated by marine waste. Each boat is estimated to lose between £6000 and £30,000 annually in catch, fouled propellers, equipment and anchors. The Royal National Lifeboat Association alone spends £900,000 annually on rescues necessitated by floating rubbish— mostly tangled propellers leaving people adrift. This translates to more expensive fish on your plate, not to mention bad news for the flagging economy.
Solutions? The report urges better monitoring and enforcement, improving harbour reception facilities and a national awareness campaign. Because all of these require a lot of money and politicians agreeing to spend it, I remain dubious as to whether this study will have any measurable effect except to horrify beachgoers.
Some statistics from the report that will make you permanently disavow romantic walks on beaches: in our region an average of 542 items of marine litter were discovered per 100 meters of beach; 60 of these were sanitary waste (bleck!) and most of it (around 75%) is plastic. So much plastic, in fact, that 94% of our seabirds (fulmars, to be exact) are now part plastic from eating the stuff. Want to take a dip? Samples from the North Sea show concentrations of tiny plastic particles around 150-2400 per square meter, and the consequences of that are . . . ? Well scientists just don’t know for certain yet.
For those unmoved by the demise of trash-gobbling birds, the cost should be sobering. Sunken nets and debris cost regional fishermen around £120 million annually in “ghost fishing,” and 69% of Shetland fishermen surveyed reported having a catch irrepairably contaminated by marine waste. Each boat is estimated to lose between £6000 and £30,000 annually in catch, fouled propellers, equipment and anchors. The Royal National Lifeboat Association alone spends £900,000 annually on rescues necessitated by floating rubbish— mostly tangled propellers leaving people adrift. This translates to more expensive fish on your plate, not to mention bad news for the flagging economy.
Solutions? The report urges better monitoring and enforcement, improving harbour reception facilities and a national awareness campaign. Because all of these require a lot of money and politicians agreeing to spend it, I remain dubious as to whether this study will have any measurable effect except to horrify beachgoers.
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