Since the 1970’s International Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78) legislation has been in place to stop the dumping of rubbish into the seas.

For more information visit the International Maritime Organization website.

This legislation covers shipping, fishing and recreational vessels in its various aspects. Despite this a significant amount of rubbish continues to be disposed of into the sea. The greater part of this rubbish is plastic.

Oil or oily water is also intentionally and illegally dumped into the sea from time to time by shipping. Drums of used oil also occasionally come ashore from unknown vessels.

Plastic articles including fishing gear, plastic drink bottles, lotion bottles, plastic bags and so on continue to come ashore from fishing and recreational boating sources.

Some articles which come ashore may look unusual or even suspicious (e.g. chemical drum or similar). If in doubt leave them alone and report the find and its location to the local police or rangers.

Various types of buoys occasionally come ashore and these may sometimes be oceanographic monitoring devices. Reporting these can assist the particular research effort. Look for any indication about the buoy and its origin.