Concerns for marine life as PPE continues to blight Fylde coast beaches

According to charity The Marine Conservation Society, its annual Great British Beach Clean, held across the UK in September, revealed an "alarming volume of PPE litter."

This year, volunteers were asked to organise their own smaller beach cleans in "bubbles", in line with Government guidance during the coronavirus pandemic.

Face masks and plastic gloves were found on almost 30 per cent of beaches cleaned by Marine Conservation Society volunteers during the week-long event.

Pieces of plastic and polystyrene were the most common items recovered, followed by plastic and polystyrene caps and lids, wet wipes, cigarette stubs and plastic string.

Lizzie Prior, Great British Beach Clean co-ordinator, said: "The amount of PPE our volunteers found on beaches and inland this year is certainly of concern.

"Considering mask-wearing was only made mandatory in shops in England in late July, little more than three months before the Great British Beach Clean, the sharp increase in PPE litter should be a word of warning for what could be a new form of litter polluting our beaches in the future."

The charity said disposable face masks and gloves pose a threat to wildlife on land and at sea, as marine animals could mistake face masks and gloves for prey, filling their stomachs with materials which will not break down and could prove to be fatal.

Animals also risk becoming entangled in the straps of face masks, it added.

Fylde coast beach volunteers, and environment group Love My Beach, said Fylde coast beaches were no exception when it came to PPE litter, and echoed the charity's concerns.

Ruth Booth, volunteer leader of St Annes Beach Care, said: "We are finding masks on every beach clean, which is extremely depressing. Last week I found three within just 100 metres."

Another volunteer, Ian Roberts, added: "I have seen a steady increase in the number of discarded face masks and gloves while beach cleaning since March.

"Some will have been dropped accidentally, although I do wonder how so many have reached the beach and whether some have been intentionally littered."

Emily Parr, Fylde Beach Care officer, urged the public to be vigilant when disposing of PPE equipment and other items which could endanger wildlife on our coast.

She said: "Discarded PPE items can now be found on all Fylde Coast beaches, almost daily.

"Love My Beach would urge everyone to dispose of their items responsibly. If littered they can very easily be picked up by the wind or reach the beach once they enter roadside drains.

"Our volunteers will continue to remove these items from beaches, however everyone has a part to play in ensuring they don’t reach the beach in the first place."