Project aims to clean up beaches

THE level of litter on a beach in Fowey is one of the lowest ever recorded – bucking the national trend.

Only seven items were removed from Readymoney Cove by volunteers in a beach clean-up and litter survey run by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS).

But results gleaned from the 2008 Beachwatch survey reveal on average, litter on national beaches has increased by 110% since 1994, when the first survey was carried out.

Fowey Harbour Commissioner's environment officer Claire Hoddinott said: "The results for Readymoney buck the national trend.

"This is a credit to the hard work of the dedicated team of volunteers who clean Readymoney and Whitehouse Beach during the season."

According to the latest report published last week, average figures for the UK now stand at 2,195 items of litter per kilometre of beach, compared to 1,045 items per kilometre in 1994.

The MCS is calling for a coordinated approach from governments to develop a marine litter strategy and deliver it through appropriate bodies.

The MCS' litter projects coordinator, Emma Snowden, said: "MCS wants zero waste on Britain's beaches and our first goal is to halve the litter on Britain's beaches by 2015, but in order to achieve this we need statutory agencies appointed with the specific responsibility to stop marine litter and develop a marine action plan now."

Marine litter kills wildlife, can be hazardous to people and costs millions of pounds to clear up.

For further information about the problems caused by marine litter and the MCS campaign to stop it, visit www.mcsuk.org

To register to take part in MCS Beachwatch 2009 on September 19 and 20, call MCS on 01989 567807 or register online at www.mcsuk.org