Plastic waste turns wetlands into killing fields
MICROPLASTICS are killing marine animals and seabirds daily but few people really know what they are.
Surfrider Foundation Surf Coast has released a new video to educate surfers and residents about the threat of microplastics in oceans and waterways.
Branch president John Foss said one of the biggest concerns was the amount of plastic found near Karaaf wetlands, home to tens of thousands of migratory birds each year.
“Microplastics are a big problem right around the world and along our coast. We know that each day thousands of seabirds and marine creatures die from ingesting plastic,” he said.
The video highlights the amount of microplastic and other plastics found at Thompsons Creek near Torquay during a beach clean-up day in May.
“We chose to dig into the sand and weeds and see what is in there,” Mr Foss said.
“We were surprised at how much domestic and industrial plastic found its way into this remote creek.”
Mr Foss hopes that after watching the short video, Microplastics — The Silent Killers in
Our Seas, locals will be more considerate of the environment.
“We would like people to stop littering and be more careful. It would be great if people could reduce their reliance on plastics.
“It may sound weird but those cotton bud ear cleaners that we use, a lot of those end up on the beach.”