International Marine Litter Common on Weymouth and Portland Coastlines, Says Marine Project
International Marine Litter Common on Weymouth and Portland Coastlines, Says Marine Project
Weymouth and Portland Marine Project CIC has highlighted the surprising scale of international marine litter washing up on local beaches, warning that much of it has travelled thousands of miles across the world’s oceans.
The group says that while some items of litter are easy to trace — such as a recently discovered wheelie bin featured in national news — other debris can appear to be ordinary British rubbish until examined more closely.
According to the organisation, much foreign litter originates from three main sources: illegal dumping from ships, lost fishing gear, and coastal waste carried across oceans from overseas shores.
One recent find, a distinctive pink buoy, was traced back to Boston in the United States after the vessel’s name was identified on the buoy and matched with photographs showing an identical item on board the ship. The project says US fishing gear is regularly found along the Dorset coastline.
In 2024, the group carried out a study with the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) into invasive species arriving on marine litter. The research focused on bait pots used in US fisheries which frequently wash up in UK waters.
One polystyrene lobster pot marker discovered locally was found to be carrying a live Columbus crab — a species originating from the Sargasso Sea — highlighting the risk marine debris poses to local ecosystems.
Reusable plastic drinking glasses are another commonly found item. Many originate from coastal towns in the UK and Europe and can often be traced back to specific pubs or events due to printed branding.
Despite this, the marine project says the majority of foreign litter they recover has likely been illegally dumped at sea. To date, the organisation has identified rubbish originating from 89 different countries worldwide.
Some items remain harder to trace, including specialised fishing buoys from Taiwan used in long-line fishing, equipment not typically used by Western fleets.
Weymouth and Portland Marine Project CIC is encouraging beachgoers to take a closer look at litter they encounter, noting that many items may have travelled remarkable distances before reaching local shores.
Further information on Cefas research into invasive species transported by marine plastic can be found at:
👉 https://marinescience.blog.gov.uk/2024/05/21/non-native-species-can-travel-the-oceans-with-a-little-help-from-plastic-waste/