In a significant effort to combat marine pollution, the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation organized a large-scale beach cleanup across six locations in Tamil Nadu, collecting 5.7 tonnes of trash on International Coastal Cleanup Day, September 21. The initiative saw 660 volunteers, including fishermen and students, participating in the cleanup, highlighting the urgent need for awareness regarding marine debris.
S Velvizhi, area director of Coastal Resources and Fisheries at the foundation, emphasized the alarming statistics: 150 million tonnes of plastic debris currently pollute the oceans, with eight million tonnes entering annually. This pollution severely impacts marine life, with 100,000 animals dying each year from plastic entanglement or ingestion.
Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist of the WHO, noted that marine litter poses threats to ecosystem health and socio-economic development. The cleanup efforts are hindered by a lack of awareness, inadequate waste management infrastructure, and insufficient policy enforcement.
Fishermen are now being educated about the dangers of discarding plastic waste at sea, and initiatives are underway to salvage abandoned fishing gear, which contributes significantly to marine debris. To address the complex issue of marine litter, a holistic approach involving all stakeholders is essential.