Research and cleaning of coastal areas

Approximately 85% of marine litter is made up of plastic. These plastics can last up to 500 years. By surveying beaches around the Kintyre coast, we can gather data on the amount and types of litter being deposited on the shore. These data will be used to inform governments and put pressure on manufactures and users on their responsibilities.

Our volunteers will be working with a team from Loughborough University, led by Dr Tom Stanton. Dr Stanton's research started on the Isle of Skye, and it was later extended the coastline near Tarbert, Argyll. KCN will now continue the research around the Kintyre peninsula. Volunteers wishing to undertake survey work will receive training in shoreline survey methods and will record data on the type and quantity of litter found. Once a beach has been surveyed, further teams of volunteers will gather the litter and remove it from the beach. Worth a watch: Fifty Years of Litter on Skye by Tom and his team from Loughborough University.

Our Plan

Stage One

Establish a list of areas that would benefit from managed and careful sweeping of litter, in consultation with landowners.

Stage Two

Equip and train a team of volunteers. Coordinate a timeframe and logistics.

Stage Three

Conduct a cleaning of an area with sensitive extraction and disposal of material. Log and monitor progress, keeping stakeholders fully informed.

Stage Four

Continue to monitor, through volunteer action, accumulation of beach and coastal litter, adapting timelines as appropriate. Use the feedback from the work to inform future action and reporting.

Get Involved

If you wish to help out at future KCN events that are part of the seagrass project, then click on this button, which takes you to the volunteering section.

Volunteering

Click on this button to go to the section that highlights other similar events that are happening locally and further afield.

Coming Up

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