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Friday, October 31, 2008, 08:45
Plastic tends to attract maritime toxins and when broken down and eaten by small marine life, it can not only affect them but you might end up eating it with your fish and chips, say the experts.
A rising trend of discarded plastic ties has been noticed at beach clean-ups in the South Hams, organised by the Totnes office of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty organisation.
Spokesman Nigel Mortimer said: "We had brilliant local support for the recent Marine Conservation Society's Beach Watch weekend
"There were at least six events across the South Devon AONB, all sending in their results to the society for analysis.
"In particular there were lots of strapping bands and chocolate bar wrappers on the shores."
Estuaries officer Nigel confirmed: "It's a windy place by nature so we all need to take that extra bit of care with our litter.
"This matters because plastic is like a magnet to the cocktail of quite nasty chemicals in the sea.
"As the plastics are eroded into smaller and smaller particles, they are ingested by smaller marine animals.
"It's concentrated by animals which eat them, many of which we might end up eating with chips ourselves," said Mr Mortimer.
He said we need cleaner seas and to take more care to dispose of plastic safely or take it home whether we are commercial fishermen, yachtsmen, anglers or beach-goers.
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