Beach plastic project takes its message to Scottish Parliament
Evidence gathered in Shetland will be used as part of a national exhibition exploring the prevalence of beach plastic on the Scottish coastline.
Artist Julia Barton took samples from beaches around the isles as part of her Littoral Sci:Art project. He work was aimed at highlighting how much plastic has become part of the environment and the potential cost this will have on the marine environment and wider society.
The #CleanBeachesScotland event and exhibition is being held at the Scottish Parliament next month for invited guests. It is organised by Ms Barton and Sita Goudie from Shetland Amenity Trust, along with the Marine Conservation Society.
Ms Goudie said the event will celebrate new and successful ways of tackling marine litter in Scotland and the next steps Scotland needs to take. It will include presentations by Ms Barton and the Marine Conservation Society, as well as displays from Shetland Amenity Trust, Scottish Association for Marine Science, FIDRA – an environmental charity based in East Lothian and KIMO – the local authorities’ international environmental organisation
“A wide range of experts – marine biologists, community engagement groups, harbour masters, waste management consultants, ecologists and environmental group representatives from across Scotland, will also be on hand to discuss the issues and explore how we can achieve #CleanBeachesScotland,” said Ms Goudie.
Shetland beach samples will be included with samples from over 120 beaches throughout Scotland, visited by Ms Barton in the last four years.
MSPs will be asked to pledge action and support moves to reduce, recover and recycle waste within our economy rather than allow it to leak into the marine environment.