Dangerous marine litter on Dorset beaches

Volunteers and conservationists found a surprising amount of dangerous marine litter at the annual Beachwatch beach clean in Worbarrow Bay. Dorset Wildlife Trust reported a worryingly high count of balloons, which are among the most harmful of rubbish to wildlife.

What litter was found on the beaches?

Emma Rance, Marine Conservation Officer at Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: “They may appear harmless, but balloons can be fatal to marine wildlife such as turtles. These animals are known to accidentally ingest balloons, mistaking them for jellyfish.”
188kg of litter was painstakingly hand picked from the beach by seventy volunteers of all ages, including the Surf ‘n’ Turf young volunteers, who analysed the finds. The rubbish included fish hooks, shot gun cartridges, countless pieces of plastic and even a fridge door, all of which can be harmful to marine wildlife and birds. The Lulworth range wardens were in attendance, ready with specialist knowledge in case any bombs or mines were found, but on this occasion, the coast was clear.

How can I help stop litter reaching Dorset Beaches?

Other finds on the day will be used to increase knowledge about Dorset’s marine wildlife, including the 77 empty shark egg cases, known as mermaid’s purses. Emma added: “We are extremely grateful to all who helped to safeguard the marine environment at this important annual event. We can all make a difference at home too, by placing any plastic or non-biodegradable material in the bin and not in the loo and opposing all balloon releases. Not only are they unnecessary and harmful to wildlife, but they are a form of littering”.

Marine events coming up include a Shark Sand Sculpture competition for European Shark Week on Saturday 16th October from 11am to 4pm at Bournemouth beach. For more information email marc.smith.dwt@live.co.uk or ring Dorset Wildlife Trust on 01929 481044. For other events visit www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/events.html.

-ENDS-
Notes to Editor

For more information please contact Dorset Wildlife Trust on 01929 481044.
For our latest news RSS feed, see /c2/rss/dwt_latest_news.xml

About Dorset Wildlife Trust www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk
Dorset Wildlife Trust was founded in 1961 to protect the wildlife and natural habitats of the county and now has over 25,000 members and manages over 40 nature reserves. Most are open daily and there are visitor centres providing a wealth of wildlife information at Brooklands Farm, Lorton Meadows, Kingcombe Meadows and Brownsea Island Nature Reserves, The Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve and the Urban Wildlife Centre at Upton Heath Nature Reserve.

The largest voluntary nature conservation organisation in Dorset, DWT plays a key role in dealing with local environmental issues. It leads the way in establishing the practices of sustainable development and engaging new audiences in conservation, particularly in the urban areas.