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  WWF Online 20 Jun 05
Marine groups in Scotland support plastic bag levy to protect sea life


Aberfeldy, Scotland – Environmental groups in Scotland, including WWF, have voiced support of a proposed levy on plastic bags as a means of preventing the unnecessary deaths of some of the region's most popular marine wildlife.

The bill, proposed by Edinburgh South Liberal Democrat MSP Mike Pringle, has introduced to the Scottish Parliament a plastic bag levy bill that seeks to place a 10 pence charge on all plastic carrier bags given out in Scotland.

"Scotland uses 1 billion plastic bags every year," said MSP Pringle. "They cause litter on our beaches, they are a danger to wildlife and they all end up in a landfill site.

By placing a small charge on each bag the shoppers will only take those that they need."

Numerous independent scientific studies have shown high concentrations of plastic material, particularly plastic bags, blocking the breathing passages of 177 marine species, including whales, dolphins, seals, puffins, and turtles.

Some marine species, such as the endangered leatherback turtle – a frequent summer visitor to Scottish waters – often mistake plastic bags for their normal prey of jelly fish, and with deadly results.

Several years ago a leatherback turtle was found dead on Scottish shores with 57kg of plastic bags obstructing its innards.

More recently a rare cuviers beaked whale washed up dead, blocked by compacted bags.

And, a minke whale was also found with 800kg of plastic bags, including UK supermarket bags, in its stomach. The list goes on.

“Plastic bags are a real and tragic threat to marine life and it’s deeply disturbing to think of the suffering these wild animals face," said Claire Pescod, a Marine Policy Officer WWF Scotland.

"By reducing the amount of plastic bags that we use and discard in Scotland we can make a real difference in protecting vulnerable marine animals, many of which already face enormous pressures from pollution, shipping, and fishing.”

Many marine species are also affected by the minute toxic particles that plastic items, including bags, are reduced to by photodegradation, leading to a weakening of their immune system.

“Last year a total of 5,592 plastic bags were recorded during a beach, about 2 per cent of all beach litter or one for every 38m of beach surveyed," said Calum Duncan, with the Scottish Marine Conservation Society and convener of the Scottish Environment

"The bill will certainly reduce the number of windblown plastic bags and play an important role in reducing the impact of discarded litter on Scotland’s marine wildlife and habitats.”

It is hoped that the bill will be considered by the Parliament in the autumn, and if successful, could enter into force in late 2006 or early 2007. .
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