Swimming against tide of plastics pollution
FORMER competitive South African pool swimmer Sarah Ferguson’s encounters with nature on a recent Elephant Coast expedition reinforced her determination to expose the danger of plastics pollution.
As an ambassador for SPAR Eastern Cape’s Stop Plastic campaign, Cape Town-based physiotherapist Ferguson swam 100km over a six-day period, from Ponta Dobela in Mozambique to Sodwana Bay in KwaZulu-Natal last month.
The Eastern Cape retail giant aims to focus on ending the practice of single-use plastic by encouraging consumers to consider the dangers the material poses to the world and offering them alternative and viable packaging options.
The chief objective of the swim was to create a seven-part documentary series which Ferguson’s environmental movement, Breathe Conservation, is producing to demonstrate the threat of plastics pollution.
During her swim, Ferguson said intimate encounters with ocean animals made a lasting impression. “The sound of humpback whales and the waves pushing me from behind, plus the odd turtle and shark sighting, was enthralling and filled me with a sense of awe and immense well-being.
“Also, being totally exposed to the elements was utterly invigorating and freeing.”
The issue of plastic pollution is a global one, she said. “The marine animals I was privileged to swim among are essential for our ecosystem.
“They do not have a voice to speak out on the negative effects of human ignorance and waste and I am choosing to use my voice to advocate on their behalf.
“It is not too late, but if we do not change our behaviour today, the next generation may not have the privilege of encountering marine life like I have been blessed to.”
Ferguson said change started with the individual and it was as “simple as refusing a straw. Each choice a consumer makes daily has a cumulative effect that over time can make a massive difference”.
She said she had chosen the Elephant Coast to target a local region in raising awareness about plastic pollution.
“I try to pick areas that have never been swum before and thought the Elephant Coast would be a great challenge. It is a marine protected area (MPA) and we felt we would encounter all sorts of wildlife that are being affected by plastics pollution, highlighting the need to protect them.”
Despite being an MPA, the Elephant Coast had not escaped being affected by plastics pollution, she said.
“Sadly, we saw a lot on the beaches along the Sodwana coastline which is protected by iSimangaliso Wetland Park. They have staff who clean the beaches daily from all the plastic pollution that washes up.”
Ferguson said she encountered a huge amount of micro plastic on the sea floor.
“I will be doing talks at schools and corporates where I share my experiences of swimming in the ocean. We want to drive home the importance of education and behaviour change regarding plastics pollution and eliminating single-use plastic from our lives.
“Our motto for Breathe (Conservation) is to live deeply and tread lightly. This is a message I try to live by and encourage others to do the same.”