Kerry MacKay , SCUBA ’ s new environment columnist , is no stranger to beach cleans . Here she offers tips for cleaning up while underwater
ENVIRONMENT
Underwater litter pick , anyone ?
Kerry MacKay , SCUBA ’ s new environment columnist , is no stranger to beach cleans . Here she offers tips for cleaning up while underwater
Just as any dive can be a Seasearch dive , any dive can also be a litter pick . Top tip for those of you who are Seasearchers – you can record the litter you find on the Seasearch form in the box that asks about litter and manmade objects .
You don ’ t need any fancy kit to do an underwater litter pick , though it does depend on what you find . A mesh goodie bag is a handy and versatile accessory . I have a medium one that rolls up neatly into my pocket . I have this with me on almost every dive , just in case .
If fishing hooks are common where you dive , then you ’ d be wise to have something you can safely stick the hooks into for transport . An old wine cork on some string is a good and cheap option . Try to avoid anything plastic for your hook storage ( plastic corks , foam , sponge …) because it will start to disintegrate and we don ’ t want to be adding more plastic to the oceans .
When it comes to deciding if you should clean something up , I judge it by what material it ’ s made of and how much the item has become something ’ s home . If it ’ s a piece of untreated wood that will naturally degrade , then it can stay .
Likewise , if the item has been thoroughly colonised by wildlife , leave it be . That ’ s a new artificial reef now .
If you find some larger litter , think carefully if it is safe to recover it . A dSMB can be useful for helping you recover heavier items , as can lift bags for even larger items if you ’ re suitably experienced . You may need to take a careful mental / written note of where the item is located to return to at a later date . This can be a great way to give a future dive some purpose to get others engaged in the activity . Some items are just too big or risky to attempt to clean up in your club . Large fishing nets are a good example of this , sometimes found fouling our beloved wrecks .
You can report any large fishing gear you find to Ghost Fishing UK . They are a voluntary clean-up crew and train to safely recover such large and difficult items . You can join them as a volunteer if you are suitably qualified , and have the right kit and motivation .
Once back ashore , we need to ensure things are disposed of properly . Take photos of your haul and be sure to share your good work online ( tag @ BSAC as we love to see what you ’ ve been up to .)
If anything can be reused , just clean it and do so .
You could have a sale of items to raise some money for your club or a charity . Fishing weights and lures are good for this . Similarly , give recyclable items a rinse or scrub as needed , and recycle them where possible . Dispose of the rest of your litter sensibly . No leaving unbagged encrusting life to stink the neighbourhood out until the next council collection date !
You probably already know sites you could clean up . If you ’ re looking for an easy win , try asking your local harbour or marina . Of course , be sure to get permission and agree on a time / area so as not to impede traffic . This could mean making an underwater litter pick a part of your club ’ s New Year dive , when the harbours are at their quietest .
The additional planning and permissions for these locations can be well worth the effort . Boaters are forever losing expensive things over the side , as well as the ubiquitous litter that follows wherever humans go . You never know what you could find . You could make a yachtie very happy by recovering something they dropped . Happy picking ! �
Fishing hooks , dog lead , and plastic litter from a single dive . Left to right : Iain Paul , Edward Haynes , Kerry MacKay .
Fishing litter , including 6kg of lead , from a single site
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