Dive Against Debris volunteers UK Lansallos Beach Clean
updates
On Saturday the 23rd of August a 20 strong team of divers descended upon the picturesque National Trust-owned Lansallos Beach, near Looe in Cornwall for a challenging conservation event. A 'Dive Against Debris'; put simply, an underwater beach clean. Lansallos Beach has a very pretty reef and lots of wildlife. On the right-hand side though, due to currents and tide, it is full of plastic debris. Debris of this nature has a devastating affect on the oceans' wildlife, causing thousands of deaths every year.
Over 1600 pieces of debris were removed from the sea and catalogued. Including 889 Fragments of plastic and 498 Pieces of cloth. It was a real eye-opener for all involved and gathered a lot of interest and bemused looks from the public. The plan was simple; to have a couple of dives and collect this underwater debris. The challenge was logistics and involved two conservation bodies, divers and shore volunteers. The main issue was access, with a 3/4 mile hike across countryside, unfeasible with heavy dive equipment. However, the National Trust provided access through the fields and, using their Landrover and trailer, transported the equipment to site.
The event was run as part of Project AWARE’s Dive Against Debris program (www.projectaware.org). They promote similar projects around the world and will use the data gathered from the day. This data was gathered by non-diving volunteers, weighing and cataloguing on the shore. They were so keen, they also had an above-water beach clean.
The Wildlife Trust's Cat Wilding, Coordinator of Cornwall's Sea Search group (www.seasearch.org.uk), also brought a team of divers. Cat's team recorded wildlife found; such data is often used to create Marine Conservation Zones. An interesting observation made was that entangled in the debris were many Pink Sea Fans. The theory suggested was that as they became entangled in fishing line, they became more susceptible to the strength of currents and became uprooted. A local productions company (paramoreproductions.co.uk ) recorded the day's proceedings, and will produce a short film. The event was followed by a BBQ, camp fire and camping on an idyllic National Trust camp site.
This free event was run purely by like-minded volunteers who wanted to make a difference. It was a unique opportunity for people and organisations, from different backgrounds, to work together and become enthused about helping overcome a global problem, on a local level. We were very lucky on the day; the weather was perfect; the unique opportunity to dive a new and uncharted site enthused the divers and exceeded expectations.
In fact, such a great time was had by all that we came away and set up a Facebook group; Dive Against Debris Volunteers UK. Through this, we can do more in the future and help raise awareness. We are now a group, run by volunteers to help with the global problem of marine debris and are not affiliated with any one dive club or organisation. Divers are in a unique position to make a real difference to the global problem of underwater debris. Although you do not have to be a diver to help; shore volunteers are equally as important. The key factor is a willingness to help with the major debris problem in our seas which has such a devastating effect on wildlife. If anyone would like to know more or help, please see or join our group on Facebook; search for Dive Against Debris Volunteers UK.
