Fishing for Litter in Scotland
Reducing Waste in Great Britain, Scandinavia and Western Europe
Dec 29, 2008
Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment officially launched the Fishing for Litter initiative aimed at reducing litter or solid waste from the Scottish Seas on 10 December 2008 at the Scottish Parliament. Waste products like plastics do not breakdown in the environment and pose a significant long-term problem for the marine environment.
The Committee on the Effectiveness of International and National Measures to Prevent and Reduce Marine Debris and Its Impacts of the United States National Research Council Ocean Studies Board says of the problem, “Marine debris presents a significant environmental challenge, far more diverse and less tractable than most other environmental issues. Marine debris, especially plastic debris is now ubiquitous in the oceans and along coasts…Despite heightened awareness of the problem and ongoing remediation efforts, studies suggest that, overall, marine debris in the environment has not been reduced.”
The Fishing for Litter Program
Kommunenes Internasjonale Miljorganisasjon (KIMO), otherwise known as Local Authorities International Environmental Organization began its Fishing for Litter initiative in a 2005 project based out of the Netherlands aimed at reducing litter in the North Sea. This effort is being expanded into Scotland and future plans include the South of England and the Baltic Sea.
Program sponsors make heavy-duty bags available to fishermen for the collection of litter encountered while fishing. The solid waste is held onboard and returned to port for proper disposal. The hardwearing bags are now available in all of Scotland’s Designated Landing Ports (DLPs) that serve the commercial fishing industry. Participating harbors can be viewed via Google Earth.
Ecological Effects of Marine Litter
Representatives of KIMO state that at least a million birds and 100,000 marine mammals perish each year because of exposure to marine debris. Injury can result from entanglement or ingestion of the wastes.
- Entanglement – Animals often become entangled in discarded fishing nets and lines. Plastic strapping bands, six pack carriers, and monofilament fishing line pose additional risks for entanglement
- Ingestion – Plastic bags floating in the water resemble jellyfish, a favorite prey of sea turtles and they will accidently ingest them. Seabirds routinely ingest plastic packing materials and return the material to their nest for consumption by chicks. Ingestion of plastic debris limits the absorption of nutrients and damages the digestive tracts of animals
Fishing for Litter encourages fishermen to participate in the program and help protect the marine environment that supports their livelihood. Residents of other coastal regions could learn lessons from this important initiative.
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