Guernsey beach cleans and marine litter

Marine debris and particularly floating plastic is a major hazard for wildlife. Seabirds, turtles and marine mammals may ingest plastic, which may cause their death. Discarded plastic erodes to microscopic particles, which can enter the human food chain. Some plastic softeners may mimic endocrine hormones which impact reproduction.

Marine debris washes up on the Guernsey shore regularly. Much of it is from ships including fishing boats. Storms bring up broken crab and lobster pots. Beach cleaners often find an odd shoe, cigarette lighters, plastic polymer fishing rope, twine, and line, pieces of polystyrene and insulation foam, plastic bags and plastic bottles, and thousands of pieces of hard plastic including disposable plastic cutlery, plastic bottle tops and plastic toys.

2967 / 4631

Lala UHT whole milk carton collected at Baie des Pecqueries on Guernsey's west coast on 23rd January 2021

Lala is a brand based in Dallas, Texas. UHT milk cartons regularly wash up on the Guernsey sea shore from countries as far afield as Peru, Poland and Saudi Arabia.

Guernsey is south of the inbound international shipping lane in the English Channel.

This milk carton was almost certainly disposed of from a ship entering the English Channel.

Milk cartons are fragile. The surface of the plasticised carton will disintegrate and peel off in the open sea.

When brought home for photography, this carton shed small pieces of material from its surface, which would happen in the sea as well.

File No. 230121 1312
©RLLord
sealordphoto@gmail.com

Dallas Guernsey beach litter Guernsey west coast litter Lala UHT milk carton Baie des Pecqueries beach clean litter Texas UHT milk carton USA beach litter food packaging carton sea shore litter ship's litter shipping litter washed up litter plastic litter IMO International Maritime Organisation Marpol convention Annex V

Sealord photography's biodiversity images began with a focus on international commercial seafood species and the marine life of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, Great Britain.

Sealord photography has a growing collection of digital images covering climate change, the environment and sustainability issues.

Sealord photography also covers the Guernsey community and particularly the fund raising activities of Guernsey charities as part of the island's social sustainability.

The fish, shellfish and marine life images would not be possible if it were not for the generosity of commercial and recreational fishermen in Guernsey, and seafood suppliers at various trade shows in the USA, and wholesalers at Fulton Fish Market in New York City.

Many marine biologists have helped identify or confirm the identity of marine species photographed. These people have been mentioned when possible.

Please email: sealord@me.com or sustainableguernsey@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments about Sealord photography. Thank you. Richard Lord

Thank you for visiting Sealord photography on Smugmug.

Sealord photography focuses on three themes:

Biodiversity with an emphasis on marine life

Sustainability relating to construction & urban development; energy; food; transport; and waste.

The Guernsey community

Guernsey beach cleans and marine litter