Beach Litter

What do we find on our beaches? What harm does it do? Where does it come from?

What do we find?

What harm does litter do? It doesn’t look very nice It can be poisonous You can cut your feet on it Animals like turtles try to eat it and die Animals like seals get tangled in it and die

What harm does litter do?

Where does litter come from? People! –Ashore –Afloat

Where does litter come from? The Marine Conservation Society runs a survey of beach litter every year. The four main sources of beach litter are from the public, fishing, sewage and shipping Source: Marine Conservation Society Beachwatch Survey 2009

Where does litter come from? Public litter – 41.5% items per km –Includes crisp and sweet packets, fast food packaging and cigarette stubs, left behind by careless coastal visitors, or dropped inland and carried by rivers and winds to the coast. Source: Marine Conservation Society Beachwatch Survey 2009

Where does litter come from? Fishing litter – 15.1% items per km –Includes discarded or lost angling and commercial items such as fishing nets, fishing line, ropes, weights/hooks and buoys. Some items of public litter may have come from fishing boats. Source: Marine Conservation Society Beachwatch Survey 2009

Where does litter come from? Sewage Related Debris – 5.4% items per km –Includes sanitary items flushed down the toilet like cotton bud sticks. Source: Marine Conservation Society Beachwatch Survey 2009

Where does litter come from? Shipping litter - 2% - 37 items per km –Includes items such as pallets, strapping bands and oil drums. Some items of public litter may have come from ships. Source: Marine Conservation Society Beachwatch Survey 2009

Ships Ships are not the worst polluters. They are more than dots on the horizon. They carry more than 90% of the stuff you buy. They carry stuff that would otherwise go by road. What sorts of ships are there, and what do they do?

Ships Some tankers carry crude oil – lots of it! Some ships carry cargo

Ships Some tankers carry refined oil Some ships carry cargo

Ships Some tankers carry refined oil to the fuel tanks in Plymouth, reducing road haulage, and keeping local petrol prices low Some ships carry cargo

Ships Some ships carry cargo Container ships carry fridges, TVs, footballs, food, shoes and lots more besides

Ships Some ships carry cargo And some container ships are smaller than others

Ships Some ships carry cargo This one carries bulk cargo like grain or fertiliser

Ships Some ships carry cargo Car transporters carry cars – really!

Ships Some ships carry people Small ferries

Ships Some ships carry people Large ferries

Ships Some ships carry people Small cruise ships

Ships Some ships carry people Huge cruise ships

Ships Some ships do special things Jack-up barges

Ships Some ships do special things Tugs

Ships Some ships do special things Dredgers

Ships Some ships do special things Hovercraft

Ships Some ships do special things Lifeboats

Ships Some ships do special things Looking after buoys

Ships Some ships do special things Warships

Ships Some ships do special things Research ships

Ships Fishing vessels, small

Ships Fishing vessels, medium

Ships Fishing vessels, large

Ships Sailing yachts

Ships Motor yachts

Where does litter come from? After it gets into the sea it is driven by –Ocean currents –Tidal streams –Wind

And some of it lands at Wembury (picture from GoogleEarth)

How did these get to Wembury? Balloon

How did these get to Wembury? Rope

How did these get to Wembury? Oil drum

How did these get to Wembury? Radar aerial

Can you tell their stories? Narrative Newspaper article Cartoon strip Play Song