basking sharks

How Scotland’s marine wildlife is in danger from plastic pollution

Posted by TishaBrown — 4 June 2017 at 8:27am - Comments
All rights reserved. Credit: Will Rose/Greenpeace

Scotland is the envy of the world with its rich waters teeming with wildlife and spectacular coastlines and beaches. But it’s increasingly at threat from the scourge of marine plastic pollution.

Are basking sharks eating plastic? We went to find out.

Posted by Luke Massey — 31 May 2017 at 4:24pm - Comments
All rights reserved. Credit: © Will Rose / Greenpeace
Crew on the Beluga II search for basking sharks on the west coast of Scotland

“Basking sharks!”

At 5am, these words shatter the silence in the sleeping quarters on the lower deck of the ship.

The crew burst into life, wrestling on clothes, cameras, binoculars.

Up on the helm, eyes pace back and forth across the expansive blue of Gunna Sound – a known feeding ground for these gentle giants off the west coast of Scotland – searching for the elusive fins which moments before pierced the water.

And then… nothing.

Greenpeace ship sets sail on ocean plastic expedition around Scotland

Last edited 5 May 2017 at 10:57am
5 May, 2017

Edinburgh, 5 May 2017 – Today, Greenpeace’s ship the Beluga II sets sail on a two-month scientific voyage around Scotland’s coastlines, investigating the impact of ocean plastic pollution on some of the UK’s most beautiful landscapes and iconic wildlife.

With studies showing that 90% of seabirds have ingested plastic, scientists and campaigners aboard the vessel will explore the front line of plastic pollution, from gannets and razorbills on the Bass Rock, to basking sharks in the Hebrides and seabird colonies on the Shiant Isles.

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