What's wrong with litter in the bay and our other marine environments?

Litter can be a silent killer of our marine wildlife. It can choke an animal feeding on it, tangle and mangle many types of animals including dolphins, seals, penguins and many other birds. Over 50 kinds of seabirds are known to eat plastic and other litter. We only sometimes see the dead victims washed up on the beach. The sight of these injured dying animals is very upsetting. People can also be badly affected especially if they are unfortunate to step on very sharp litter.

Power boats have become stranded when litter has tangled the propeller and many boats have sunk when they have struck a large submerged object. Litter can last for a very long time in the environment before it eventually breaks down. In the sea, many objects can float a long distance fouling areas many kilometres from their source of litter.

Plastics in the marine ecosystem will last for many years. Wherever there are large quantities of litter on the beach, there are also likely to be other hidden and more difficult to detect pollutants in the water. The pollutants many of us are concerned about include oil, grease, heavy metals, fertilisers insect and weed poisons and E. coli bacteria. Other major contributions to the damage to our marine environment are from our pets. Each day many tons of dissolved dog droppings will end up in the sea creating major pollution problems.

Living In a Catchment

The Living in a Catchment program relates litter and the consequences of litter on the environment. By highlighting the environmental problems, students motivation not to litter will be increased. The themes of this program are litter prevention (rather than cleaning up) and the impact of litter on our immediate environment and its wildlife. Students are involved in half a day of indoor activities including designing litter traps. The half day of field work includes monitoring litter on beaches and measuring contaminants in a creek.

Bay Litter Watch is an Internet based campaign. The concept of this campaign is to capture students' interest in the environment without losing the litter message which could well be the problem with most litter programs designed to date. A campaign, directed at students, which can tie many of these issues together has all the ingredients of a successful litter education program. Extensive materials have been placed on the Internet with many links to other relevant sites. A printed summary is also available on request.

Program

As part of the kit, students are encouraged to contact their local community newspaper and have them report on their activities. Some base information is provided so that students can determine just how much impact litter is having on the beach.

This program is initially directed at all schools near the bays (Port Philip and Western Port) and those visiting the bay.