Scottish Sea Farms backs beach cleanup for fifth year
For the fifth year running, salmon producer Scottish Sea Farms is taking part in the Great British Beach Clean, helping to clear debris from the coastline around Shetland, Orkney and the Scottish mainland.
The mass cleanup, involving Scottish Sea Farms staff and open to family, friends and members of the public, is overseen nationwide by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS).
Not only will the beach clean teams be removing litter, but they will also be recording what they find, so the MCS can compile a national database to help inform and shape future policy around protecting our shores.
To date, beach cleans have revealed a high proportion of plastic and polystyrene among the rubbish collected, as well as metal, wood, pottery and ceramics, glass, paper and cardboard, rubber, cloth and sanitary waste.
The MCS said the data collated has been used to make a positive impact on our oceans, contributing to environmental advances such as the introduction of the plastic bag charge, banning microplastics in personal care products, better wet wipe labelling, and supporting a tax on single-use plastic items.
Scottish Sea Farms is inviting members of the public to join its staff and their families at clean-ups at Teithil beach by Barcaldine, South Shian and three sites each on Orkney and Shetland, over 16-19 September. The details are:
Mainland
- Teithil beach by Barcaldine – 12:00 to 14:00, Friday 16 September
- South Shian beach – 14:30 to 16:30, Wednesday 21 September
Orkney
- 4th Barrier, Burray – 08:30 to 11.30, Friday 16 September
- Echna Loch Bay – 08:30 to 11.30, Friday 16 September
- Weyland Bay – 13:30 to 15:00, Friday 16 September
Shetland
- Taing beach by Cliftsound – 13:00 to 15:30, Friday 16 September
- West Shore beach by NAFC, Scalloway – 10:30 to 13:00, Tuesday 20 September
- Burn beach, Scalloway – 11:00 to 13:00, Wednesday 21 September
To sign up or find out more, click on your nearest site in the list above. For more events around the UK, see the MCS website.
Scottish Sea Farms Environmental Scientist Kirsty Brown, who led the company’s very first participation in the Great British Beach Clean back in 2018, said: “It’s great to see participation in the event having grown over the years, both within the company itself and around the UK.
“Whether you live or work by the coast, or simply enjoy visiting, it’s in everyone’s interests to help keep local shores clear of debris and also do what we can to identify the main sources and how to limit them.”