Scientists from CEFAS – the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science – have published pioneering research modelling how non-native species can be transported across the ocean on floating marine debris. They used a novel modelling approach, adapting a computer model originally designed to predict the distribution of oil following an oil spill, to uncover
Tag Archives: marine litter
Research report on marine debris pathways for non-native species into UK waters
by NW Coastal Forum on January 18, 2023
Government to ban the supply of unnecessary single-use plastic items
by NW Coastal Forum on January 18, 2023
In November 2021, Defra launched a consultation on proposals to ban the supply of single-use plastic plates, cutlery, and balloon sticks and expanded and extruded polystyrene food and drinks containers. The consultation took place as part of the 25 Year Environment Plan ambition to eliminate avoidable plastic waste by 2042. The responses have now been
Consultation: Introducing market restrictions on single-use plastic items in Scotland
by NW Coastal Forum on October 13, 2020
Closes 4th January 2021. The Scottish Government is consulting on the introduction of market restrictions on the most commonly littered single-use plastic items found on European beaches. This would effectively ban these items. The results of the consultation will be used to inform policy and any future legislation as Scotland seeks to match the requirements
Best Practice on Reducing the Amount of Fishing Gear Littering the NE Atlantic
by NW Coastal Forum on July 14, 2020
OSPAR has published a scoping study on best practices for the design and recycling of fishing gear as a means to reduce quantities of fishing gear found as marine litter in the North East Atlantic. Both unintentional and intentional loss of fishing gear at sea result in marine litter and negative environmental impacts. The study
Below the surface: 25 years of seafloor litter monitoring in coastal seas of North West Europe
by NW Coastal Forum on April 11, 2018
The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) has released a paper summarising 25 years of research into marine litter on the seafloor across Northern Europe. The research, spanning the period from 1992 to 2017, has revealed changes in what makes up plastic litter in the marine environment over time, with a decrease in
Great Winter Nurdle Hunt 3rd to 5th February 2017
by NWCF on January 16, 2017
Nurdles, also known as mermaids tears, are tiny little pellets of pre-production plastic and can be found washed up on beaches around the UK. It is thought that these nurdles make it into the sea due to mismanagement in factories which make their way into waterways as well as nurdles being accidentally distributed during transit. Nurdles are
10 Year Marine Litter Report Published
by NWCF on December 18, 2016
An article entitled: “Marine anthropogenic litter on British beaches: A 10-year nationwide assessment using citizen science data” has recently been published by a group of scientists. The data is from Marine Conservation Society (MCS) Beachwatch surveys which have been taking place by volunteers for more than a decade. The main findings from this article are
MCS Great British Beach Clean Findings Announced
by NWCF on November 22, 2016
Results from the Marine Conservation Society’s Great British Beach Clean (GBBC) have been announced. The GBBC is a four day event each September where just less than 6,000 volunteers helped clean 364 beaches around the UK in 2016. At each beach clean volunteers surveyed the type and abundance of litter collected. In 2016 268,384 pieces
#SwitchTheStick Campaign Launched
by NWCF on September 22, 2016
City to Sea have recently launched a campaign called #SwitchTheStick which is currently petitioning against using plastic in cotton buds. Cotton buds are increasingly being washed up on beaches around the world as it is thought that people flush them down the toilet which then make their way through our sewers and eventually into the sea. These
Applications Invited for Marine Conservation Grants
by NWCF on September 22, 2016
Sea Changers are welcoming applications for grants for marine conservation projects to be started in 2017. Allocated grants can be up to £1,000 and will aim to supporting grass roots and community based projects and must fall within the following categories: Marine Reserves/Protected Marine Areas Direct Marine Clean-up Action Education, Campaigning and Raising Awareness Species Protection