ocean plastic

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.

Article tagged as: basking sharks, Beluga expedition, Beluga II, end ocean plastics, Gunna Sound, Mull, ocean plastic, oceans, Plastics, scotland, Tiree

Iconic seabird colony polluted with ocean plastic, Greenpeace expedition finds

Last edited 11 May 2017 at 12:29pm
11 May, 2017

A research expedition by the crew of Greenpeace’s ship the Beluga II has revealed high levels of plastic pollution on the iconic Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth, home to the world’s largest colony of Northern gannets.

With studies showing that 90% of seabirds have ingested plastic, these shocking images reveal plastic around eggs in nests and strewn across the island, and even in the beaks of seabirds.

The findings come on the first day of research during the Beluga II’s scientific voyage around Scotland, which runs until the end of June, documenting the impact of plastic pollution on some of the UK’s most precious wildlife like puffins, gannets and basking sharks. 

Article tagged as: Bass Rock, Beluga expedition, Beluga II, Northern gannets, ocean plastic, plastic pollution, scotland, Scottish Seabird Centre, seabirds

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.

Article tagged as: basking sharks, Bass Rock, beluga, Beluga II, ocean plastic, plastic pollution, scotland, seabirds, Shiant Isles

“Our oceans can’t stomach any more of Coca-Cola’s plastic” – new Greenpeace report reveals scale of Coke’s plastic footprint

Last edited 10 April 2017 at 5:29pm
10 April, 2017

A new Greenpeace UK report has revealed the scale of Coca-Cola’s plastic footprint, the biggest soft drinks company in the world.

Despite plastic bottles forming a major source of ocean plastic pollution, Coca-Cola failed to disclose key information for Greenpeace’s survey of the top six global soft drinks companies released last month, while all of its competitors did.

Article tagged as: coca cola, ocean plastic, plastic pollution

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