How can we clean up ocean plastics?

Introduction

Welsh beaches may be among the cleanest in the UK, but that doesn’t mean that pollution isn’t an issue in Wales. Tonnes of plastic waste are discarded into the oceans each year. What are we doing to help tackle the issue and how can we help?

The good news is that the fight to clean up ocean pollution is taking place across the globe, and many beaches are being awarded for their cleanliness.

Welsh beaches

A view of North Beach, Tenby in 2019, with the Blue Flag for cleanliness in the foreground. — Image caption,
Tenby's North Beach in 2019 flying the Blue Flag for cleanliness

A Blue Flag beach means it has been awarded a Blue Flag by the Foundation for Environmental Education in Denmark. This tells us the beach is super clean and has excellent water quality, so if you see one of these flags you know the sea is perfect for a swim.

Map of Wales showing the statistics: 45 Blue Flags; 15 Green Coast Awards; 25 Seaside Awards. — Figure caption,
Statistics for 2021

In 2021, Welsh beaches won 45 Blue Flags, 15 Green Coast Awards and 25 Seaside Awards.

Wales is surrounded by the sea on three sides. These seas are really clean.

In 2023:

all but two of 109 bathing waters in Wales met the minimum standards
over 70% met the toughest “excellent” standard

Wildlife

The Welsh coastline provides the perfect habitat, or home, for lots of different marine wildlife such as dolphins, seals, porpoises, jellyfish and even sharks.

The coast is also home to some really important colonies of birds. If you take a walk along the coast you could be lucky enough to spot Manx shearwaters, puffins and gannets. In fact, Wales is famous for being one of the best places in the world to spot many of these birds.

Who lives here?

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Image caption,
Grey seals
Grey seals can be seen along the Welsh coast all year. Male seals are called bulls and they can weigh as much as 230 kg - that’s about the same weight as an adult lion. They spend most of their time out at sea catching fish, but you can often spot them when they return to land to have a good rest.
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Angelshark
Angelsharks are critically endangered. They are amongst the rarest sharks in the world. They have flat bodies and fins and look a lot like a ray. In 2021, there was a confirmed sighting of an angelshark in Cardigan Bay. The shark was a juvenile, or a young shark. Experts say this suggests that the sharks are giving birth in waters around Wales. This is really good news, as it shows an active breeding population.
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Bottlenose dolphin
Did you know that lots of Britain’s dolphins live in Cardigan Bay? You’re most likely to see a pod, or a group of dolphins during the summer months. They can often be found racing alongside fishing boats, chasing fish or even playing in the surf.
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Compass jellyfish
Every summer more and more jellyfish are found on Welsh beaches. They are not made of jelly. They are actually 95% water and have no brain, blood or heart. They paralyse their prey with their tentacles and long mouth arms. Take care if you spot one though, as some jellyfish can sting.
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Leatherback turtle
Leatherback turtles have also been spotted along the coasts of Wales. These rare sightings were made in north Wales and on the Gower Peninsular. The leatherback turtle is the largest species of turtle in the world. They can grow to be 2.5 meters long and they can live for as long as one hundred years.

So what’s the issue?

Plastic waste at the beach of Costa del Este in Panama City, April 2021. — Image caption,
Plastic waste on Costa Del Este beach, Panama City

Millions of tonnes of plastic debris are being added to the world’s oceans every year. The rise in plastic pollution is being tackled across the globe, but the litter keeps coming.

The majority of this plastic sinks to the bottom of the ocean, so it cannot be seen, but it can cause problems for animals and humans.

Even though we can’t always see it, plastic waste is polluting our oceans all over the world.

What can be done about it?

Volunteers are working hard to clean up our oceans and beaches. You might even have taken part in a local beach clean. However, some volunteers are taking things a step further.

Three women and a man working together to collect rubbish off a beach. — Image caption,
People taking part in a beach clean up

Video: Marine life being saved in the ocean

Meet the expert

David Kennard is part of a team of pro scuba divers who perform underwater litter picks. It’s not always an easy task. Underwater visibility in Wales can be really challenging and can make finding rubbish a tough task, but they’ve found all sorts of items under the sea.