Adopt A Beach

The Scottish Islands Federation's "Adopt a Beach" initiative is all about tackling marine litter on our island beaches. It's a big issue that affects the environment, local economies, and even our health. We're looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help us by doing regular litter surveys on our beaches—ideally, four times a year.

Your participation will give us crucial information about how much litter there is, what it is made of and where it comes from which will help us find solutions to the problem. Together, we can work towards keeping our shores and oceans clean and healthy for everyone, now and in the future.

 

WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE?

As well as cleaning up our coastline, a litter survey involves recording all litter items encountered on the stretch of beach.  The survey area should extend from the strandline to the back of the beach, and ideally be 100m in length (minimum 10m). Items should be recorded on our survey form. This photo ID guide may help with identification of litter items. Any additional items encountered but which aren’t specified on the form can be noted under ‘other’. Details on the survey itself, including the date, location and number of survey volunteers should be recorded on the cover sheet.​​​​​​​

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In addition to tallies of different items found, SIF Marine Litter Working Group are additionally keen to record the total weight of litter deriving from marine industries (from fishing, aquaculture and shipping) separately from litter coming from public or unspecified sources.  

If you encounter any large items that you believe may have come from fish farms, please note details on your form specifying whether or not they were located within your survey area. If reported to Salmon Scotland using this form Marine Debris, they will arrange for its removal.

Your results can be submitted directly to the Marine Conservation Society who were are working in close collaboration with through the Beachwatch website, or alternatively send a photo/scan of your completed forms to us at marinelitter@scottishislands-federation.co.uk and we can do so on your behalf.

Please note that in order for your survey to be covered by the MCS’ insurance, it must be registered with them in advance on their website, and a risk assessment completed prior to the event, a template for which can be found here.

Further information on undertaking a litter survey, including training videos, can be found on the Marine Conservation Society’s website: Beachwatch. Alternatively, please do not hesitate to contact us at marinelitter@scottishislands-federation.co.uk if you have any further questions or require any support.

Thanks for helping to clean the seas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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