Marine litter is any persistent, man-made material that has ended up in the marine and coastal environment, whether deliberately or accidentally. These materials include vast quantities of domestic plastics, abandoned fishing gears, metals, rubbers and much more.
Impact of marine litter
Plastic Ingestion
Marine organisms may fail to distinguish litter from food, as some marine debris resembles food they usually feed on. Ingesting marine litter can cause blockages in the alimentary canal, loss of appetite and even death.
Entanglement
Entanglement in marine litter may restrict the movements of marine animals, which may lead to hunger and dehydration. Marine organisms can even be injured or suffocated by the marine debris. Furthermore, the entanglement may disrupt growth and development.
Fragmentation
Plastics do not decompose under sunlight or in the sea waves. However, they will break down into small pieces, which makes them extremely difficult to clean up. With microplastics being ubiquitous, even reported to be found in our blood, we have yet to fully comprehend their impact on us and the environment.
Beach cleaning is not an easy task. It requires favourable weather, tides, locations and sufficient manpower. Moreover, much of the marine debris is either out of reach or so fragmented that it is difficult to remove from its surroundings. In these situations, despite our best intentions and tireless efforts, effective clean-ups may not be possible.
In fact, there is a more feasible approach that anyone can take - reducing waste at the source.
Bring your own bottle
Avoid purchasing food with individual packaging
Bring your own bag
Avoid using disposable straws
Minimise the use of disposable utensils
Choose products or packagings that can be reuse or recycle
Buy less, buy better