|
□ ■
|
WASTE
BEACH AND OCEAN LITTER Plastic bottles, aluminum cans, fishing lines and sewage-related rubbish not only disfigures coastal landscapes but also harms marine wildlife and ecosystems. Major sources of marine litter are beach visitors, sewage, fishing and shipping. Indigestible plastic litter is eaten by turtles, fish, birds, dolphins, seals and other marine mammals. These plastic parts can disturb and plug their intestine. Fishing line, netting and rope trap and strangle animals.
Time taken for objects to dissolve at sea: - paper bus ticket 2 - 4 weeks - cotton cloth 1 - 5 months - rope 2 - 14 months - tin can 100 years - plastic bottle 450 years (Source: Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association)
Health risks and public costs Apart from environmental impacts on marine and coastal wildlife, beach litter is a health risk for visitors and also affects tourism business and the recreational value of coastal areas. The public has to bear the costs for clean-up and proper disposal of beach litter.
There have been several initiatives and campaigns aimed at increasing public awareness of beach litter. Environmental legislation is focussed upon prevention and reduction of marine litter at source.
► Marine Conservation Society UK - Litter ► Australian Marine Conservation Society - Fact Sheet-Marine Debris ► Queensland Environmental Protection Agency
MARPOL Convention The MARPOL Convention is the most important international environmental convention to prevent and minimise pollution of the seas. Marpol contains 6 annexes, concerned with preventing different forms of marine pollution by ships. There are 136 parties of the agreement. The convention and annex I entered into force in 1983, followed by other annexes at later dates. Annex VI has entered into force in 2005. Annex I - Oil Annex II - Noxious Liquid Substances carried in bulk Annex III - Harmful Substances carried in Packaged Form Annex IV - Sewage Annex V - Garbage Annex VI - Air Pollution
► IMO International Maritime Organization
REDUCE YOUR SHOPPING-BAGS
Too many plastic shopping bags in your waste bin? Keep some canvas shopping bags next to your front door, so you can pick them up on your way out. Use a basket or canvas bags - they are reusable, they save resources and contribute to waste prevention.
|
