Litter blights British beaches
Updated on 08 April 2009
Britain's beaches are getting dirtier with the amount of rubbish found on them more than doubling in 15 years.
The Marine Conservation Society's Beachwatch 2008 survey recorded and removed 385,659 items of rubbish including fishing nets, plastic bags, cigarette butts and cotton buds from beaches across the UK.
The average amount of rubbish found was 2,195 items per kilometre (0.6 miles) - more than two pieces for every metre (3.3ft) of beach, and more than double the 1,045 items per kilometre picked up during the first annual survey in 1994.
According to the Marine Conservation Society, more than 170 species of wildlife including seabirds, turtles and whales have been known to mistake litter for food, which can lead to starvation, poisoning and fatal stomach blockages.
Beach litter can also be hazardous to people and costs millions to clear up.
Emma Snowden, MCS litter projects co-ordinator, said: "Whether you live near the coast or miles inland, we are all connected to the sea. This is a man-made problem."
She added: "Every piece of litter has an owner and we all need to take responsibility to not drop litter in the first place.
"MCS wants to see zero waste on Britain's beaches and our first goal is to halve the litter on Britain's beaches by 2015, but in order to achieve this we need to appoint lead agencies with the specific responsibility to stop marine litter and develop a marine action plan now."
The MCS is urging members of the public to sign their petition calling for a Government action plan on marine litter.
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