Let fishermen join the clean-up crew!
Plastic in remote coves ‘best collected by experts’
FISHERMEN could be paid to collect the estimated 1,000 tons of plastic that has washed up in Scotland’s coves, campaigners have said.
Clean-up volunteers cleared large amounts of waste from northern beaches last year but they say plastic in ‘hard to reach’ bays and coves can best be netted by experienced fishing boat crews.
Under plans being developed by campaigners Plastic@Bay, fishermen could in future ‘catch’ the rubbish.
The community campaign group, based in Durness, Sutherland, has removed almost four tons of plastic from Balnakeil Beach in the village in twolaborating and-a-half years. In another bay nearby, well over a ton of waste was collected from just one beach.
Dr Julien Moreau, of Plastic@Bay, said: ‘Overall we think we collected about five tons of plastic in North-West Scotland this year. We have started colwith an environmental consultant doing oceanographic transport simulations.
‘We now have made some runs and obtained preliminary results illustrating the reason why plastic gets concentrated and accumulates in Balnakeil Bay and other local places.’
Dr Moreau and his team recycle as much of the plastic as possible into everyday objects such as table mats and clocks. He said: ‘We are applying for funding to create small factories in active fishing harbours.
‘The plastic lab has successfully produced many different types of objects and there is much to come again as we are currently testing continuous production.
‘The plan is to produce construction material from marine pollution but also old nets and ropes.’
He added: ‘Ideally we hope to be able in a couple of years to pay boats and cleaning groups/individuals for the material they bring to the factories. We think there could be as much as 1,000 tons of plastic to remove from hard-toreach areas.’
In the meantime, the campaigners want to secure funding for two rangers and a boat to access hardto-reach coastlines. But they think this will not be easy as most coastal cleaners are volunteers. Plastic@Bay has received nearly £12,000 for an electric quad bike and trailer, which helped to remove the rubbish.
The funding came from Highland and Moray FLAG (Fisheries Local Action Group).
The campaign group was also awarded £65,000 for a unique marine recycling centre which is believed to be the first of its type in Scotland. In its annual report, the organisation says: ‘Professionals need to be trained to access all parts of the coast, monitor the pollution but also participate in biological recordings in these places where nobody goes.’
Ironically, much of the plastic waste collected by Plastic@Bay is gear discarded by fishing crews – the very people who could be paid to collect the waste.