High season is on and people are enjoying the sun, sand and sea. Most of the beaches are crowded and the expectations for this season are good. Last year, the rain forced visitors to cancel the trip but this summer the amount of rain has been better distributed along the days so the hotels occupancy rate is high. Most of the days have been partially cloud this month but it doesn’t hinder people to go to the beach.
As the amount of people rises considerably during summer, the same happens with the garbage found on the beaches. It is a shame that people simply throw bottles, plastic bags, cigar buts, and all sorts of micro garbage on the sand. There are garbage bins and people could just put it in a bag and take home but lack of environmental awareness among the majority seems to be a cruel reality.
Recently I saw a documentary about the amount of plastic that is found in the ocean and even the existence of a large concentration of plastic debris known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The plastic doesn’t biodegrade but disintegrates into even smaller pieces, becoming a real threat to marine life. Sea turtles mistake plastic bags for jelly fish, their favorite food, and after eating it, get their digestive system clogged up. Scientists have also found an impressive amount of plastic in the stomach of examined seabirds.
So think before you get rid of plastic in the beach. A small bag or bottle may look inoffensive but when tons of material are out there, the damage on earth is certainly made.