Port Laing beach, North Queensferry will be getting spruced up for summer as part of Beachwatch, the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) beach clean and litter survey on Sunday 30th June which aims to raise the issues of litter around the UK’s coastline.
Susie Burnet, from Edinburgh, is a Sea Champion volunteer for MCS and is hoping the event will highlight the serious problem of beach litter on Scottish shores.
“I’ve organised what I hope will be the first of many seasonal beach cleans at Port Laing as I am passionate about marine conservation. I’ve have been spreading the word about marine issues at events in the area and I’m even running a marathon to raise funds for MCS. I feel the next logical step is to take my passion to the beach and inspire others to help clean-up our beautiful shoreline,” Susie says.
Susie is hoping that local people who love the beach will join her at the clean up and make it a real community event. MCS will be providing gloves, bags and litter pickers.
“Litter levels on Scottish beaches are worryingly high, particularly plastics. Plastic bits and pieces made up almost 56% of all the litter found on Scotland’s beaches during a single weekend last September according to the annual Beachwatch Big Weekend Report. Volunteer cleaners also found over 110 plastic drinks bottles for every kilometre they surveyed,” says Matt Barnes, MCS Sea Champions Volunteer Coordinator.
“Over 170 species including seabirds, turtles and whales have mistaken marine litter for food and have eaten it, which in many cases has resulted in starvation, poisoning and ultimately a slow, painful death” explains Matt.
The beach clean and survey will take place on Sunday the 30th June at 1pm. Anyone interested in getting involved should meet on the beach at Port Laing. You can find out more by calling Matt on 07891 319 268 or visit www.mcsuk.org/beachwatch
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