ALONG A STRETCH OF BEACH ABOUT 50 YARDS LONG, I COLLECTED OVER 2.5 POUNDS OF PLASTIC BAGS FLOATING IN THE SURF.
I dedicate my early mornings to body surfing. While out on Monday, a tide had come in bringing natural and man-made detritus. The debris choked the impact zone (shallow water just off the beach). I mean it was Pea Soup. While out surfing, I shoved many plastic bags up the arms of my wetsuit. But once I got out, that's when I noticed the immensity of the plastic problem.
(the flip-flop is mine, shoved into the photo for a sense of scale)
PLASTIC BAGS WERE EVERYWHERE!
I'VE NEVER SEEN SO MANY IN THE OCEAN ALL AT ONCE.
AND THAT'S AFTER 280 BEACH CLEANUPS IN THE SAME SPOT AND MANY, MANY MORNINGS IN THE WATER. I WAS DUMBFOUNDED BY THE SCENE.
PLEASE LA, LET'S BAN THE BAG....
scary, thanks for posting as usual.
ReplyDeletewhat are the ocean currents and prevailing winds like in that area - is it more likely rubbish is dumped on that beach than say, another beach a mile away?
My local supermarket (in SW Victoria, Australia) is now stocking biodegradable bags for fruit and vegetables. And more people have reusable bags than not. Small steps but better than ignoring the problem.
I am not sure what the prevailing winds and currents are like. I know we are known for a "clean" beach where I collect, and down the way at say Dockweiller beach, they have a lot more garbage there....
ReplyDeleteSmall steps. Love it. That's a HUGE part of the change we need. Thanks for commenting!
Sara