LEAVING MORE THAN FOOTPRINTS
NIGEL EATON, EDITOR

The dangers to marine life and sea-users presented by human refuse are highlighted in a report just published by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS).

It deals with the state of beaches in the UK based on a "snapshot" from volunteers who took part in an organised clean-up of 150km of coastline over two days last September. Part of International Coastal Cleanup, which involves 90 countries worldwide, the report outlines the amount and sources of washed-up or dumped refuse.

Among the facts highlighted are that:

• The volunteers recorded more than 240,000 items of refuse on 229 beaches around the UK.
• This represented one item for every 60cm of beach, and 36 plastic bags for every kilometre of coastline surveyed.
• The refuse encountered poses a continuing threat to dolphins, whales, turtles and seabirds by entanglement in, and ingestion of, plastics. It also spoils fish catches, and affects local economies through clean-up costs and loss of tourism in affected areas.
• The hazard to boats from items of refuse in inshore waters and the open ocean is substantial. Of particular concern are items ranging from lumps of polystyrene to discarded fridges, which can float around on the surface for years.
• Although reduced from 2001, sewage-related debris accounted for nearly 4% of the total.