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.

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Some litter from the sea shore at Petit Port on Guernsey's south coast collected on 12th January 2016

Some of the larger plastic litter pieces collected from the sea shore at Petit Port on Guernsey's south coast on 12th January 2016.

This litter entered commercial waste management channels before I could properly identify it.

I believe the black container next to the crate filled with rope and twine may be a west African octopus pot, which might have been carried by ocean currents to the Petit Port sea shore by way of the Caribbean.

File No. 180216 6813

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sealordphoto@gmail.com

larger pieces of plastic litter litter pieces Petit Port Guernsey 120116 180216 ©RLLord 6813 Nylon rope 12 January 2016 beach clean Nylon nettting Petit Port beach litter beach clean plastic octopus pot octopus pot African octopus pot plastic film plastic sheet ocean debris marine debris sea shore litter waste rubbish west African octopus pot

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