Clean water campaigners from Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) believe that the UK Government urgently needs a National Marine Litter Strategy to tackle the worsening crisis of litter in our oceans and across our beaches. Co-ordinated action directed by the Prime Minister is vital in order to reduce the tide of plastic and other manmade debris washing up on the UK’s shores each and every day. On the opening day of the WQS O’Neill Cold Water Classic, SAS were joined by some of the world’s best surfers to call for the Prime Minister to take urgent action to increase protection levels for our oceans in relation to litter.

SAS campaigners were joined by O’Neill team rider Sam Lamiroy and UK pro surfers Alan Stokes, Mark ‘Egor’ Harris, Oli Adams who, amongst many others, have shown their support for the petition as it goes live at:

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/marine-litter/

SAS is urging its supporters and the wider public to sign the petition calling for the implementation of a National Marine Litter Strategy, which will help protect the UK’s coastline, oceans and waves for generations to come.

At the O’Neill Cold Water Classic, SAS’s anti-litter campaigns are taking a three-pronged attack on this critical issue; mobilising personal action, lobbying industry and petitioning the Prime Minister.

Marine litter is often the most obvious environmental issue threatening our beaches. This plethora of plastics and other litter is not only an eyesore, but also a persistent danger to surfers, beach users, recreational water sports enthusiasts, and the beautiful wildlife and natural habitats all around the UK’s coastline. It also represents a real threat to the fishing and tourism industries, and impacts on local councils who often pay large sums to take marine litter off our beaches.

To complement the petition to the Prime Minister, SAS will be lobbying industry as part of its Return To Offender campaign. SAS will send back in the post companies’ identifiable litter found at the Thurso beach clean, calling on them to improve their anti-litter labelling and packaging policies to find less damaging, degradable alternatives to materials currently used.

SAS Campaign Manager Andy Cummins says: “Thurso’s a great wave and one of the most remote venues for a surf competition. But like most surf spots in the UK it’s plagued with plastics and other marine litter. Join SAS and call for the Prime Minister to implement a National Marine Litter Strategy to protect our beloved beaches and surf spots.”

O’Neill Professional Surfer Sam Lamiroy says: “Surf spots all over the country are littered with plastics. SAS are having a positive impact with their beach cleans and by confronting industry but we need more action from the top. Let’s all put some pressure on the Government to clean up our oceans, we need your help, so sign SAS’s petition now! Thanks!”

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