News
Plastic debris on the increase in Pacific
Recent research shows 100 fold increase in plastic litter floating in Pacific waters over the past 40 years. >> More
Excellent bathing beaches at all time high
The MCS Good Beach Guide 2012 is out today and recommends the highest number of beaches in 25 years >> More
Protected sites for Wales?
A public consultation on new marine sites has just begun, and you can have your say >> More
Call to cut marine litter by half
MCS and partners call on European countries to set a 50% litter reduction target when EU states finalise plans for 2020 >> More
Anglers called on to clean up our coastline
MCS welcomes new initiative from the Angling Trust encouraging anglers to ‘Just Take 5’. Either 5 minutes to pick up litter or simply pick up 5 pieces of litter. >> More
Spring clean volunteers needed to spruce up Langland beach!
Spend a morning on a beach activity that doesn’t cost the earth but is priceless for the state of Langland Beach on the Gower. >> More
Become a Sea Champion
Find out how you can help protect our seas as part of our new volunteering scheme, funded by M&S. >> More
Plastic wrapped poo is threat to beach cleanliness
The MCS Beachwatch Big Weekend Report launched today reveals a rise in poop scoop bags on beaches >> More
Sign up for balloon and lantern ban in Wales
MCS, Keep Wales Tidy, Eco-Schools and Cardiff Council urge ban as petition launched on Assembly website >>More
Big Beach Clean-up May 11-13th
Register to take part, and get a £5 M&S voucher on the day, as part of our joint Forever Fish campaign >>More
Help MCS turn the tide on pollution
Pollution from sewers, farmland and city streets is a serious concern at a third of the UK's bathing beaches, and beach litter levels continue to be over acceptable levels at nearly 2,000 items for every kilometre on a beach.
Litter and sewage pollution is not only an eyesore but is also a danger to the amazing wildlife in our seas and on our beaches. We want to see action taken to reduce litter levels on our beaches by half by 2020 and to see a drop in sewage pollution.
View the following video, taken from the BBC series Tropic of Cancer, to see the problems caused by plastic. Presenter Simon Reeve says "This is a colossal problem that we really need to address" - watch to find out why:
Turning the tide on litter - what needs to happen?
MCS wants:
Government to formulate coherent marine litter action plans.
Industry to improve water treatment storage capacity and combined sewer overflows to reduce the discharge of untreated sewage and sewage related litter to rivers and the sea during heavy rainfall.
The public to reduce their use of plastic packaging, and reuse and recycle wherever possible. First steps can be as simple as avoiding plastic shopping bags, bottled drinking water and over pacakged goods.
See our full recommendations on pollution here.
MCS Pollution team – what we do
Every year we work with thousands of volunteers in all four parts of the UK to monitor the litter on our beaches through our Beachwatch programme. Using the data we collect from our surveys, we run campaigns on areas of particular concern, such as plastic bags and balloon releases.
We also report on the state of our bathing waters through the Good Beach Guide.
