Microplastics in Hebrides waters

MICROPLASTICS have been found in some of Scotland’s most remote waters, posing a threat to seabirds and fish stocks.

Greenpeace said the problem is not as bad as some other parts of the world but criticised a lack of planning to address the issue.

Scientists collected 49 samples in Scottish coastal waters last year, with a focus on the Hebrides in areas known to be important feeding grounds for basking sharks and seabirds such as gannets, puffins and razorbills.

They were then analysed at Greenpeace’s laboratory at the University of Exeter, where 31 samples were found to contain microplastics.

Tisha Brown, the charity’s oceans campaigner, said: “Threatened seabirds and other wildlife are already exposed to [microplastics], along with the fish stocks we eat, and there is no coherent process or even plan to stop this problem from getting worse.”