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Plastic Pellets Flood UK Beaches, Birds at Risk
10 Aug
Summary
- Tonnes of plastic nurdles washed ashore after a ship collision.
- Birds risk choking or starvation from ingested plastic pellets.
- The plastic spill could affect fish, seals, and dolphins.
A significant spill of plastic nurdles into the North Sea has led to tonnes of these small plastic pellets washing up on beaches in north-east England. The incident occurred after a collision between two vessels at the Port of Tyne damaged shipping containers carrying the pellets. This has raised serious concerns for local wildlife.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) highlighted the immediate danger to seabirds, especially during this period when they are feeding their young. Ingesting these nurdles can cause birds to feel full, leading to starvation, or they can obstruct their airways, causing choking. The environmental impact is also a concern, with the potential for these plastics to enter the wider food chain.
The Tyne Rivers Trust has already reported finding fish with nurdles in their stomachs, describing the situation as an "environmental disaster." The RSPB noted that plastic pellets can even mimic the smell of food after prolonged exposure to the marine environment, making them more likely to be consumed by birds directly or indirectly through prey.
