On Monday, we spent an exciting afternoon enjoying the enthusiastic next generation of marine biologists. A brother and sister came to us wanting to do something extra for the seas and it’s living creatures. We started on the rock pools getting prepared for a one hour beach clean, we explained to them some of the major problems worldwide regarding plastic and litter in the seas, and how it is affecting over 250 species that have been known to have ingested or become entangled in plastic (Laist, 1997). Sea birds, marine mammals and sea turtles amongst others are the most affected marine life by plastic pollution.
Then we started the work! It was performed on the Dolau Beach in New Quay and we went for a walk picking up litter with our super cool pick-up tool!! The activity was really worthwhile as we came up with a completely full recycling bag, mostly plastic pieces and packages inside as well as beer tins and cigarettes packages. We were really proud of our work when we started to see people coming to us bringing the litter they were picking up from their beach spot, and putting it into our recycling bags.
Our two friends helping us yesterday were really enjoying it, particularly as we went in for a little marine biological learning in the rock pools where they could learn about and see the creatures in situ, living in these mini intertidal ecosystems.
Here we have a picture of our super heroes of yesterday’s beach cleaning!!! Without them we couldn’t do it! Than you so much guys!
Hope to see more of you for the next beach clean on Friday (1st August) from 4pm to 5 pm at New Quay Pier (Ceredigion, West Wales)!
by Lourdes Lopez, Sea Watch Foundation Intern.
