We are overrun by waste - it is infiltrating our ecosystem, polluting soil, sand and sea. Through weather and run-off, everything ends up touching the the ocean in some way. Currently, there is a 1.6 million square kilometre garbage patch floating in the Pacific Ocean and future predictions tell a staggering story about the effect on wildlife - by 2050, virtually every seabird on the planet will be eating plastic.
In Guernsey, we are not exempt from the effects of pollution. The island benefits from a community of regular beach cleaners, but very little data has been recorded to date.
The Beach Clean Project is a citizen science project to monitor and map ocean waste across the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Each week we host a public survey at a different beach and log what is found. We also encourage the public to send us their beach clean data via our online form.
Through collecting detailed data, we can start to understand the waste landscape along our coast in more detail, particularly its source. Our annual report will then act as a base from which we can make recommendations to local policy makers on how the pollution, and ultimately its effects, can be mitigated.
The project launched January 2021 and the data collected so far has been staggering. The Marine Litter Report is a detailed visual representation of what is found on our shores, the solutions to the problem, and how people can get involved. To read our annual reports, please click below.
Log a Beach Clean
Do you organise beach cleans or pick up litter when at the beach? If so, we want to hear from you. The data on what you find is really important and will help build a more detailed report on local marine waste. Either fill out our simple online form or email us at hello@cleanearthtrust.org.
Upcoming Beach Cleans
- Every SaturdayVarious locationsEvery SaturdayVarious locationsOur weekly beach surveys take place every Saturday. Help build Guernsey's report on ocean waste as we clean-up our coastline. Location changes weekly, keep an eye on our Facebook for more info and meeting locations. All ages are welcome and litter picking equipment is provided.