Coastal Clean-Ups

Pollution is nature's health hazard. Rubbish, waste and toxic materials are a great threat to coastal and marine areas. They have a severe, negative impact on the ocean environment, its plants and animals and the people that live on the coast.Rubbish poisons Rubbish poisons the ocean, causing illness, disease and death for marine life and people. Human illnesses caused by eating affected seafood and swimming in polluted waters includes gastroenteritis, encephalitis and cancer. Rubbish makes beaches unsafe Adults and children playing on the beach and swimming in the water can hurt themselves on rusty cans and cut themselves on broken glass. Marine life can also be harmed. Discarded fishing line and rubbish injures birds and fish, and plastic bags suffocate them and other marine animals such as dolphins and turtles. Rubbish makes beaches look ugly Rubbish discarded on our beaches and floating on the water looks dirty and ugly. It reduces the beauty and attractiveness of beaches, preventing local and international tourists from visiting. We need to protect our marine plants and animals and their habitat, and by doing so protect our food security, livelihoods and health. Keep your coast clean If you care about your environment and want to keep your beaches healthy and pollution-free then: - Recycle your rubbish or throw it in a bin - don't throw any rubbish on the road, on the beach or into the sea. - Pick up rubbish and recycle it or throw it in a bin. - Get involved in local coastal clean-ups.