Marine and Beach Litter

What is marine and beach litter?

Marine and beach litter is an environmental, social and economic issue for the Dorset and East Devon coastline with implications on the marine environment, industry and on coastal communities. The litter found on our beaches an in our marine environment comes from lots of difference sources including litter that has been:

• Deliberately discarded into seas, rivers or on beaches (such as litter and beach BBQ's left by beach visitors)

• Brought into the sea indirectly with rivers, sewage, storm water or wind

• Accidentally lost, including material lost at sea in bad weather (such as fishing gear or ships cargo)

• Litter Free Coast and Sea

  Campaign to reduce the amount of marine and beach litter at source along the Dorset and East Devon coast.

• What impact does Marine and Beach Litter have?

• What can I do to help reduce marine and beach litter on the Dorset and East Devon Coast?

  Combating marine and beach litter is a global task and you may be thinking what on earth can I do to help? But every individual can do their bit. Below we have highlighted some campaigns that are currently going that you can get involved in.

• Take part - Have a Litter Free Lunch!

  Litter looks horrible on our beaches, costs lots of money for local councils to clear it up and it can get washed into the sea and harm marine creatures. We all usually take a snack with us when we go to the beach, walking, sailing or even fishing for the day at the coast. Next time you are planning your lunch/snack, why not follow they three B's to help stop more litter collecting on our beaches:

• What are the European Union and Government doing to reduce marine and beach litter?

• The Dorset and East Devon Marine Litter Group

  Marine litter is a global issue that cannot be solved over night. However, the Dorset and East Devon Marine and Beach Litter Group has recently been set up to try and reduce marine litter along the Dorset and East Devon Coast between Exmouth and Christchurch at source.

• What types of beach litter are found in Dorset and East Devon?