In June, a team of Triton volunteers traveled to Talacre Beach in North Wales to participate in their first beach clean in collaboration with the Marine Conservation Society (MCS). The event was part of the celebrations for World Environment Day and World Ocean Day, aiming to clean up the coastline and protect marine wildlife and ecosystems.
The Marine Conservation Society, an environmental charity, focuses on protecting marine life and promoting sustainable management of marine resources. They employ a comprehensive conservation strategy that includes scientific research, advocacy, education, and community engagement. The MCS regularly organizes beach cleans, Seaweed Search surveys, Scottish Education Roadshows, Seasearch surveys, Ocean Friendly school projects, and produces educational materials like the Good Fish Guide to help people make sustainable fish choices. They also actively work to influence government policies.
The Triton team, comprising 14 volunteers, dedicated their morning to removing harmful pollutants from Talacre Beach, preventing them from entering the ocean and endangering marine ecosystems. During the first hour, the volunteers were tasked with recording items found within a 100-meter stretch of the beach. They collected various items, including angling lines and half a flip-flop, recording a total of 109 items. The data revealed that over 60% of these items originated from public sources, nearly 65% were made of plastic or polystyrene, and 7% were metal. These statistics were gathered from the surveys completed in the first hour. Afterward, the volunteers expanded their search beach-wide, ultimately collecting and removing a total of 10kg of pollutants from Talacre Beach.
Following a well-deserved lunch under the Welsh sun, the MCS organized an afternoon filled with educational marine-based activities. The first challenge involved matching commonly discovered ocean items with their respective decay times. The team was shocked to learn how long litter remains in the ocean before decomposing. Later, the volunteers participated in a marine quiz and a treasure hunt, embracing their competitive spirit.
Ellie, one of the volunteers, shared her thoughts: “This was my first beach clean with MCS and certainly won’t be my last! As someone with a keen interest in sustainability, I enjoyed contributing to the fight against climate change. It was eye-opening to learn about the decomposition rates of items frequently found on our beaches and in our oceans—over 600 years for a fishing line!”
Another volunteer, Alex, remarked, “I really enjoyed taking part in Triton’s first-ever beach clean! The MCS were brilliant to work with and extremely knowledgeable. A day at the beach, in the sun, while learning about and positively impacting the environment—it doesn’t get much better than that!”
The volunteers expressed their gratitude to the MCS for an insightful and educational day, one they hope to repeat soon. For more information about the Marine Conservation Society or to participate in an upcoming beach clean, please visit Marine Conservation Society.
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