Image via Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful

Research highlights that our shores are still awash with discarded waste

Eighty-four per cent of the litter found on Northern Ireland’s beaches is made from plastic, according to data published by environmental charity Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.

The Marine Litter Report, which is now in its 12^th year in 2024 and is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), shows that the average number of litter items present per 100 metres of beach surveyed in 2024 was 341, highlighting the need to continue our fight against litter.

Once again, the volume of plastics at the surveyed beaches featured prominently, reaching a staggering 84% of all litter recorded. Overall, 17,573 items of litter were detected on the beaches surveyed in 2024, demonstrating the need to move forward with proposals regarding a Deposit Return Scheme and Extended Producer Responsibility, as outlined in the Environmental Improvement Plan.

Other findings made available in the Marine Litter Report include the contents of the ‘Terrible Ten’ most observed litter culprits across beaches, which are dominated by plastic and polystyrene fragments sized under 2.5cm. This is followed by tangled fishing nets, rope, string, and cord with a diameter of less than 1cm. A key finding in this year’s report is the significant amount of drink-related litter that has made the top ten.

The Marine Litter Report is an annual survey of 12 beaches around Northern Ireland’s coasts that are assessed by a team of trained operatives during the four seasons of the year. Drawing on the international OSPAR methodology, the results from each survey are added to a central database of 15 governments and the EU cooperate to protect the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic.

Eric Randall, Chief Executive of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, said:

“This report highlights why we need to keep pushing forward on our fight against litter. The decrease in marine litter is welcome, but the rates are still far too high. It is easy to think that throwing away a plastic bottle or a straw has no consequence, but it is detrimental to our marine wildlife, and it hurts our local economy. This double whammy of damage must be turned around if we are to have truly thriving beaches and marinas.

I reaffirm Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful’s commitment to policies that move us away from the use of single-use plastics and encourage a circular economy where reuse becomes the norm.  The findings in this report show why these changes are necessary in Northern Ireland.”

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir said: “I welcome the publication of the Marine Litter Report 2024 by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful and extend my sincere thanks to the volunteers and contributors whose dedication to surveying and cleaning our beaches is making a real difference.

“The statistics highlight the persistent problem of litter, particularly plastic, in our marine environment. This is a form of pollution that we can all help prevent at its source. Everyone has a role to play in tackling this avoidable problem and I am confident that through collaboration, increased public awareness as well as strong policy interventions, we can turn the tide on beach litter.

“I am proud that my Department continues to fund the Marine Litter Report. The data collected since 2012 has helped build a robust evidence base that informs our actions and supports long-term environmental protection.”

Read the Marine Litter Report at www.keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org/marinelitter

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