With every tide, the extent of the world’s plastic pollution problem is revealed on the shores of Guernsey, as discarded waste from across the globe washes up on its beaches. But this environmental crisis has not gone unnoticed.
A dedicated group of local beachcombers, united under the Facebook group “Found on the Beach in Guernsey,” comb the island’s bays daily, meticulously collecting and documenting debris. They share their findings with marine biologist Richard Lord, whose tireless work cataloguing plastic waste now informs international efforts to tackle marine pollution.
Lord, who first became aware of the sheer volume of plastic washing ashore in 2008, has since turned his garden shed into a research hub, housing an extensive collection of reinflated plastic bottles, discarded fishing twine, and various marine litter worldwide. His expertise has become invaluable to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as it seeks solutions for ocean plastic pollution. In 2024, his Marine Shipping Litter Project was recognized with second place in the Guernsey Conservation Awards, solidifying his role as a key advocate in the fight against global plastic waste. Read More
News Credit: The Guardian
Picture Credit: Luigi Bongiovanni/Zuma Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock