Divers’ harbour clean
A WEST Wales diving club recently held a litter-pick and scavenger hunt at Burry Port Harbour.
Fourteen members of Ammanford Sub-Aqua Club, friends and family joined forces to clear rubbish from the car park, coastal path and local beach. Over the course of two hours, six bags were filled with all sorts of weird and wonderful items, from fishing line and food wrappers, to radiator panels and even a shopping trolley!
It wasn’t all hard work, though; the event included a winter ‘rum walk’ through Pembrey Country Park and a highly commended carvery at the Ashburnham Hotel, where teams were awarded prizes for their efforts.
Discarded rubbish often lies at the bottom of the sea, hidden from most people’s view. But scuba divers — such as ASAC’s members — see first-hand the devastating effects it has on beaches, the ocean, and marine life.
Fortunately, calls to tackle the problem are increasing, with demands to ban plastic, and pleas for action from renowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough.
Closer to home, BBC’s Countryfile and Countryfile Diaries have both featured ASAC’s litterpicks along Gower and Burry Port to help highlight the issue of litter and marine conservation.
Club member Danielle Schofield said: “If we see rubbish on any of our regular dives, we’ll always pick it up if it’s safe to do so.
“We often find fishing weights, bottles, or drinks cans, and many of us have rescued crustaceans or fish that have become entangled in ghost nets.”