Marine litter is a global problem that is only getting worse. An estimated one million birds and 100,000

marine mammals and sea turtles die each year* from entanglement in plastics or plastic ingestion.

A survey of 25 grey seal pups off the Cornish coast found four to have plastic netting around the neck

In February 2004 a dead Cuviers Beaked whale was found washed ashore in Scotland. It was found that the entrance to the stomach was completely blocked with a cylinder of tightly packed shredded black plastic bin liner bags and fishing twine

In the UK a study of gannet nests on Grassholm Island in the Bristol Channel recorded that over 90% of the nests contained plastic.

A green turtle found stranded in Blackpool, Lancashire in December 2001 was found to have an assortment of plastic fragments within the oesophagus and stomach; the largest of which was a piece of blue balloon

Where does it come from?

According to the Marine Conservation Society’s 2009 Beach Watch survey results, about 42% of all marine litter comes from us, the public, swept by wind or washed by rain off highways and city streets, down streams and rivers, and out to sea. What’s more, beach litter, such as crisp packets, food wrappers and drink cans left behind after visits to the seaside, has increased by 80% over the last 10 years. One of the leading offenders are plastic carrier bags, with approximately 13 billion plastic bags given out to shoppers in Britain every year a high proportion of which are carelessly discarded and end up on our beaches.

There has been a threefold increase in the number of balloons and balloon pieces found on British beaches since 1996. The practise of releasing thousands of balloons into the sky has become popular with charities and at commemoration events. Balloons are thought to be in the top five causes of death for birds washed ashore on beaches.

Fishing litter (such as discarded fishing line, hooks and weights used by anglers) continues to cause pain and suffering to wildlife, and whilst most responsible fisherman are aware of the importance of clearing up after themselves, there's still a minority that don't bother.  On average the RSPCA receive almost 2,000 calls a year to report incidents involving swans and fishing litter and almost 100 mute swans are admitted to their Wildlife Centres.

What will happen to all that litter?

It is estimated that plastic takes 450-1000 yrs to break down into pieces too small to see, but those pieces will last forever in the sea as plastic "dust". In some places there are now more pieces of plastic at sea than there are marine creatures. At this size it is small enough to be ingested by every single organism in the world's oceans - animals as small as krill (plankton feeders) right up to the great Blue Whale. Marine plastics work much like a sponge and collect chemicals that have entered the marine environment over the years. Studies have shown that animals in the marine environment, such as plankton, are ingesting increasing amounts of plastic and therefore the chemicals attached to them. These chemicals are then passed up the food chain and ultimately could be a threat to human health.

What can we do?

• Act responsibly with your litter and dispose of it in a bin, if not available then take your litter home.

• Say no to carrier bags at the supermarket

• Get involved with local clean up events.  The next Exe Estuary clean up will be on Saturday 18^th September as part of the MCS National Beach Watch Day.

• Sign the MCS marine litter petition calling on Governments to take the lead and publish action plans to reduce marine litter by 2011 www.mcsuk.org

Find out more about the Marine Conservation Society and their fantastic work to clean up our beaches and lobby for change at www.mcsuk.org

* Source Data: United Nations Environment Programme

Local Awareness Raising Campaign

The Exe Estuary Management Partnership has recently ran a campaign with local schools to create art work that communicates the damaging impact of litter on our marine environment.  Find out more here!