A staggering 300 kilograms of litter has been removed from UK shorelines in a series of large-scale beach cleans led by SEA LIFE and local conservation partners.
Across multiple sites, more than 100 dedicated volunteers came together to help protect marine wildlife by tackling pollution on land and beneath the waves.
During the clean-up, volunteers uncovered a wide array of rubbish, ranging from everyday waste to bizarre and unexpected items.
The most common pollutants found were metal debris, plastic bags, drink cans, fishing wire, baby wipes, and disposable BBQs.
Among the more unusual discoveries were an old 1980s Tango can, a toy pig (now affectionately known as Paul), pairs of underwear, and a traffic cone.
Some sites added a fun twist to the day, shouting "Litter Alert!" every time a piece of trash was found, energizing the group to keep going.
In Scarborough the local team along with volunteers from BHP Accountants spent two days cleaning Scarborough's North Bay beach and collected 92 kg of waste material.
Some of the more interesting finds included fishing lines, ropes, cans, glass bottles, an old gate, and even two broken lobster pots.
At Weymouth, the team received an unexpected observer as a curious seal swam along Chesil Beach, seemingly watching the volunteers as they worked.
In Arrochar, at Loch Lomond, SEA LIFE partnered with The Grab Trust and other local conservation groups to remove waste from the shoreline, where 40 volunteers collected bungy rope, plastic bags, and more hazardous materials.
SEA LIFE say:
"The significance of these efforts cannot be overstated. Every year, more than one million marine animals die due to plastic and pollution in our oceans, with 80% of pollutants linked to human activity. According to SEA LIFE Trust, if current trends continue, by 2050 there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish."
Neil Harris, General Manager of SEA LIFE Brighton, stated,
"Removing 300 kilograms of rubbish is an enormous achievement that will make a big difference for local marine life. It's heart-breaking to see creatures like seals, fish, and birds suffering because of human negligence, but these clean-ups are a crucial step in reversing the damage. We couldn't have done it without our incredible volunteers, and we're committed to keeping our oceans clean and safe.
"Beach cleans like these are vital, but we also recognise the importance of underwater cleans as pollution can lurk beneath the surface, out of sight but still threatening marine life."
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