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SPRING CLEAN UP VOLUNTEERS HELP CLEAR COASTAL DEBRIS |
gibfocus - 11th March 2008
(2008-03-11 18:15:00 )
Click here for pictures of the clean up.
The ESG is pleased to report a successful clean up behind the area of the new Sports complex over the weekend. A team of 24 Clean up the World Volunteers made up of: Duke of Edinburgh participants, Victoria Stadium reps, St Johns Cadets, Bayside students (Environmental Club) and the ESG tackled a part of Gibraltar?s coastline which is frequently swamped by marine debris.
Giving up valuable free time over a long weekend the motivated volunteers transformed an area covered in a shocking array of plastics, rope, wood etc. into a clean and sparkling site. A few tons were lifted off the rocks thus preventing this particular rubbish from returning to the open sea with the next change of tide ?it was hard but rewarding work which raised many questions and discussions among the volunteers.
50 large sacks of assorted waste and three one ton sacks of timber were filled in a matter of hours. A rough tally was kept of the categories of rubbish found ? mainly various forms of plastic, a lot of timber, polystyrene (packaging) as well as the usual tin cans, shoes, plastic bottles, rope, glass, etc. A report will be sent to Clean up Greece, an NGO who is carrying out a major campaign on marine debris in the Mediterranean Sea.
Thanks to all the volunteers and to Toyota Gibraltar for the use of their truck to dispose of the collected rubbish. The area will continue to be monitored by Victoria Stadium management.
It is hoped that different coastal sites will be tackled over the next few months? to continue to log the type and likely origin of rubbish affecting Gibraltar?s coastal environment.
Marine debris is the name given to waste that finds its way into our seas and oceans. Plastics, rubber, metal, wood and glass can be found floating in our oceans or washed up on our beaches. Marine debris is not only a hazard to ships, divers and beach goers; it is also a threat to marine life. While 80% of the rubbish found at sea is believed to come from land based sources and should be contained, 20% is presently coming from sea based sources which is harder to control.
Legislation exists to prevent pollution from ships (MARPOL 73/78) which has been adopted by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). Under this convention garbage disposal from ships should follow strict criteria (see table Garbage Disposal from Ships). This is self-policed and not necessarily always adhered to. Furthermore although the Mediterranean Sea has been designated a Special Area for the purpose of MARPOL 73/78, this provision has not yet entered into force due to the lack of adequate reception facilities for waste disposal.
Gibraltar?s? coastal and marine environment is affected by waste from land based sources and from rubbish dumped at sea, the latter sanctioned under existing legislation! One positive development is that the Convention is under review which will be completed by October 2008. The ESG will be working alongside Clean up Greece and others in a bid to improve the rules at an international level as well as to raise awareness about these problems. It will also continue to highlight our littering problems in Gibraltar.
Did you know?
? Every day, ships throughout the world jettison 5.5 million items of waste into the sea?
? Three times as much rubbish is dumped into the world?s oceans annually as the weight of the fish caught
? Plastic debris causes the death of more than a million seabirds every year, as well as more than 100,000 marine mammals. Syringes, cigarette lighters and toothbrushes have been found inside the stomachs of dead seabirds, which mistake them for food
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