30 Jan 2024
Researchers have found that two-thirds of hermit crabs species were pictured in “artificial shells” of plastic waste. The finding are published in the journal Science of the Total Environment and are based on analysis of photos, taken by wildlife enthusiasts, and published online. The researchers trawled the internet for pictures of Hermit crabs using the iEcology (internet Ecology) research […]
14 Nov 2023
An international group of scientists has cautioned against reliance on mechanical clean-up devices as a means of addressing the plastic pollution crisis. The researchers say they appreciate the clear and pressing need to tackle the millions of tonnes of waste that have already accumulated in the ocean and waterways. However, they caution that plastic removal […]
26 Sep 2023
From a press release from the UK Ministry of Justice: Plastic and litter will be removed by offenders wearing high-visibility jackets emblazoned with “Community Payback” on beaches up-and-down the country, as part of the Marine Conservation Society’s annual Great British Beach Clean. The Probation Service has partnered with several major organisations with a focus on […]
29 Aug 2023
Marine mammals mistakenly eat plastic debris items such as plastic bags, food wrappers, ropes and abandoned fishing gear, or they become entangled in plastic items including fishing nets. Both scenarios can lead to injury and, in many cases, death. Now a recent US study has revealed that marine mammals face a more subtle plastic threat: microplastics. In the ocean, microplastics […]
30 May 2023
The second high-level round of negotiations organised by the United Nations on the way to achieving a global treaty against plastic pollution are underway in Paris. The meeting aims to lay the groundwork for the “Zero Draft” of the proposed treaty text, and therefore provides a critical opportunity to engage stakeholder organisations with ministers and […]
09 May 2023
A United Nations report highlights the opportunities the ocean holds and charts a course to sustainably use marine resources. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Trade and Environment Review 2023, published on 8 May, analyses the world’s ocean economy – worth an estimated $3-6 trillion – and assesses how human activity and multiple […]
14 Mar 2023
Plastic pollution in the world’s oceans has reached “unprecedented levels” over the past 15 years, a new study has found, calling for a legally binding international treaty to stop the harmful waste. Ocean plastic pollution is a persistent problem around the globe — animals may become entangled in larger pieces of plastic like fishing nets, or […]
06 Mar 2023
New research now shows that seabirds are suffering from a plastic-induced illness named ‘plasticosis’, the Natural History Museum has said. Rather than being caused by viruses or bacteria, ‘plasticosis’ is caused by small pieces of plastic which inflame the digestive tract. Over time, persistent inflammation causes tissues to become scarred and deformed, with knock-on effects on growth, digestion […]
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