Ecologist association ANSE has highlighted the ‘enormous risk’ that plastic waste in the sea poses to birds, cetaceans, fish and turtles.
They have been carrying out a campaign as part of the LIBERA project to fight against the dumping of rubbish in the oceans.
Plastic contamination is especially worrying in the Mediterranean because it is a semi-enclosed sea with a large coastal population, they note.
ANSE volunteers have been sailing the coastline of south-eastern Spain since 2017 to compile information on the levels of waste.
After covering a total of 10,000km between Alicante and Andalucía, they have reported their findings.
According to ANSE, there is a large amount of plastic floating in the zone, with the highest levels found between the capes of Santa Pola and Cabo de Palos in Murcia.
ANSE studied 20 species of marine fauna and the worst affected by the plastic pollution were those most under threat, such as loggerhead turtles and Audouin’s gull.
“These animals suffer a high level of mortality caused by swallowing plastic or getting caught up in nets or other detritus,” noted ANSE. Dolphins and long-finned pilot whales are also prone to swallowing plastic.
They also took 58 samples to measure the level of microplastics in the water.
These small particles ‘degrade from larger items and remain in the natural environment for many years’, becoming incorporated into the food chain.
The highest density was found in areas closest to the coast.
“It is important to introduce measures at a local level which will prevent more rubbish ending up in the sea,” stated ANSE.
“At the same time, we should take into account that it all starts with our habits.
“We should try as much as possible to stop putting items wrapped in packaging in our shopping baskets, opting instead for bags or receptacles that can be recycled and rejecting overwrapped products.”
They urged consumers to choose glass instead of plastic.
ANSE organises litter collections on beaches and in dry ravines close to the shore so this rubbish does not end up in the sea.
During the last year they were able to clear 600 kilos of waste from these coastal areas.
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