Marine litter is the collective term for any man-made object present in the marine and coastal environment and includes all objects that do not naturally occur in the marine and coastal environment but are nevertheless found there. Marine litter consists of articles that have been made or used by people and, subsequently, deliberately discarded or accidentally lost.
Marine ecosystems are affected by marine litter at every level – from tiny microscopic organisms through to the very largest animals such as whales and turtles.
Did you know?
• at least six million tonnes of marine litter enters the world’s oceans each year, causing harm to underwater environments and wildlife
• in 2008, 10,600 divers removed 219,528 lbs (99.57 tons) of marine litter from over 1,000 miles of underwater terrain, an average of 25 pounds per diver
• nearly 80 percent of all marine litter is plastic and in some parts of the ocean plastic outweighs plankton 6:1
• an estimated 46,000 pieces of plastic litter alone are floating on every square mile of ocean, 70 percent of which will eventually sink
• an estimated 100,000 marine mammals including dolphins, whales, seals and sea turtles choke or get tangled in debris every year
• and 86 percent of all sea turtles are affected by marine debris
• more than one million seabirds are killed by litter each year
*Figures from Project AWARE Foundation
However marine litter doesn’t just affect the organisms that live in the sea, it also affects the human population too. Apart from being an aesthetic problem, it poses a health risk to beach visitors and can also affect the local economy as a result of lost recreation and tourism revenue, costing UK taxpayers and beach managers many millions of pounds annually in clean-up and disposal.
But instead of making the problem worse we can be part of the solution! The Marine Conservation Society ‘Beachwatch Big Weekend’ is a national beach clean-up and litter survey event that has taken place on the third weekend of September every year since 1993. Beachwatch Big Weekend 2009 is taking place over the weekend of 19th-20th September, visit http://www.mcsuk.org/ for details. If you are a diver, visit Project Aware http://www.projectaware.org/english/default_international.aspx to find out about taking part in underwater surveys.
Sauce can help! If you need help with raising the awareness of marine litter issues in your area, we’ve got the knowledge and skills to communicate your messages with intelligence, precision and impact. We can assist and run campaigns that drive positive change ensuring that conservation needs are being addressed, while also bringing social and economic benefits to the local communities. If you would like a free consultation with the Sauce Sachet Service http://www.sauceconsultancy.co.uk/services_sachet.htm – please email us info@sauceconsultancy.co.uk
By Caroline Robinson
Tags: coastal environment, marine litter, Project AWARE Foundation
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