Outer Hebrides Claddach now known as
Clean Coast Outer Hebrides
Below is quoted from the BBC about Blue Planet II
Get involved with ocean conservation
If Blue Planet II has inspired you to help our oceans, then you've come to the right place! Below we share some links and information on the issues our oceans face and how small changes you can make really can make a difference.
Did you know?
No one in the UK lives more than 70 miles from the coast.
And remember, the oceans connect us all so what you do doesn't just help marine life in and around the UK coast but will help our oceans globally.
Every year, around 8 million metric tons of plastic waste enters the ocean, where it can prove fatal to marine life.
Fishing boats in the UK catch up to 150 different species, but most people in the UK only eat five.
Things you can do!
#2MinuteBeachClean
Simply spend just two minutes doing a litter pick down on the beach, or if you can’t get to a beach then a litter pick anywhere will help to improve your environment. You can even document your efforts online using #2MinuteBeachClean and share your efforts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
By choosing cotton buds with cardboard sticks instead of plastic, you’re making a big difference.
Be an ocean hero!
We’re inspired by Jan Wells, a very dedicated dog walker who committed to do a beach clean every day for a whole year!
In 2016, 6,000 volunteers cleaned 364 beaches by attending one of the Marine Conservation Society organised cleans!
Reduce your energy consumption - some simple tips
Turn off lights, TVs, computers, when not in use
Turn down the heating when it's cold. Blankets and socks are good for you and better for the planet
Burn renewable fuel (wood not coal)
Walk or ride your bike and carpool if travelling greater distances
Slow down when you are driving and keep tyres inflated to the right pressure. Turn off your engine if stopped for long periods
Eat less meat, especially red meat. Cattle produce large amounts of methane (Phew!)
Buy local and try growing your own food
Use a washing line rather than a tumble dryer
Insulate your home
Choose renewable energy and/or get some solar panels
Plant greenery on roofs, driveways, patios and windowsills
Take a 'staycation' and avoid short-haul weekend city-breaks abroad
Carbon offset your flights whether for business or for pleasure
Recycle. Reusing rather than manufacturing from new materials saves energy
The problem with plastic
What on earth is a nurdle? These tiny, lentil sized plastic pieces are by-products of various manufacturing processes and end up in our oceans in their millions as a result of mishandling and accidental spilling in industry.
These small pellets never go away, instead breaking down into smaller and smaller pieces, which in turn are ingested by birds and fish, entering into the foodchain with fatal effects.
If you find any nurdles, The Great Nurdle Hunt want you to log them on their website to help to show the scale of the problem and to understand more about their distribution.
Microplastics
Some of the world’s deepest living sea creatures have been found to have plastic in them. Researchers at the Scottish Association for Marine Science sampled creatures off the Western Isles and a staggering 48% were found with plastic in them, at depths of up to 2,000m (6,561.8ft).
These plastics consisted of polyethylene and polyester found in plastic shopping bags and clothing. Polyester fibres can reach the seas in waste water from washing machines and to add to the problem, many household and cosmetic products contain tiny pieces of plastics, known as microplastics. These plastics are washed down the drain when you brush your teeth, scrub your face or clean the house and can end up in our oceans as they are too small to be caught in water filtration systems.
The good news is that the UK government pledged to ban plastic microbeads by 2017.
Stop sucking!
Used for just a few minutes, plastic straws can take hundreds of years to decompose if not recycled.
Seabirds like wandering albatross travel thousands of miles in search for food. Often mistaking plastic for food, this ends up in their stomachs and so in their young as well.
If you eat seafood are you eating plastic?
For the whole article click this link to the BBC webpage
Original image by Cristine McAvoy