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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Trapped commercial fishing litter in the western boulder field on 19th August 2020

High tide, and particularly rough seas at high tide, move large boulders weighing many tonnes in the western boulder field, which forms the western side of the top of the Petit Port shore.

Although many attempts have been made to remove litter trapped by the boulders, litter remains, which is so firmly trapped that removal of this litter is difficult. Some of the litter items, including rope, plastic mesh oyster bags and polyform buoys, are trapped underneath boulders weighing many tonnes.

Aerial view of western boulder field at Petit Port: https://www.sealordphotography.net/Guernsey/Petit-Port/i-Z3qVvxP/A

File No. 190820 2414
©RLLord
sealordphoto@gmail.com

Petit Port commercial fishing industry litter marine plastic litter ocean debris trapped rope western boulder field

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