Coast drowning in rubbish

LITTERING on beaches at the coast is of increasing concern to the authorities.

Last week eight employees of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) at Swakopmund collected about 80 canvas bags, with a 50 kg capacity each, of litter from Mile 4 halfway up to Mile 14. Rod Braby, Chief Warden of MET, said the worst areas were the popular fishing spots.As much as 50 per cent of rubbish collected consists of beer bottles, especially South African brands.Other rubbish collected in large quantities includes plastic water bottles, empty bait boxes, nappies, plastic shopping bags and fish guts.Bait boxes even have a notice printed on them not to litter, but this appears to be conveniently ignored by many anglers.Bright yellow boxes dotting open spaces can be seen for miles.Braby said for two days in a row, areas they had cleaned at Mile 8 had been littered again when they arrived the next day.On Friday canvas bags put out ahead of the cleaners were stolen.Bags already filled with rubbish and left behind to be picked up later had been emptied and the bags taken.At signs put up at popular spots asking the public not to litter, rubbish has been dumped all around the signs.Braby said it was not practical to use rubbish drums as people and animals [primarily jackals] toppled them.”People simply need to learn to take their rubbish home,” he said.He added that while people were not expected to do the same with the remains of their fishing activities, the best way to dispose of fish guts and unwanted fish was to return them to the sea.”It should not be fed to birds,” he emphasised.Swakopmund Town Health Officer Clive Lawrence, agrees with Braby.He told The Namibian that if people could take “the stuff” to the beach, they should take responsibility for removing it.At its last meeting, the Municipality’s Environmental Conservation Committee identified a joint project with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources to curb marine and beach pollution.The awareness and education campaign will aim to prevent and control waste generated by fishing vessels, fishing factories and other marine-related activities.It will also aim to create awareness of the danger, impact and effect of pollution on the marine environment and resources.Braby said it was very difficult to fine polluters as they had to be caught in the act.In January, the Walvis Bay Municipality introduced a new by-law which carries a fine of N$ 1000 or three months’ imprisonment, or both, for people caught dumping, depositing, leaving, spilling, dropping or placing anything on beaches that affected their cleanliness.This includes leaving behind bait, fish hooks or offal.Possible measures suggested by different authorities include slapping a littering levy on fishing permits, or taking away fishing permits from offenders for a period.Braby felt it would also help to encourage members of the public to recycle.Bottle banks for the recycling of glass are still placed all over Swakopmund, while the Municipality recently started a paper bank at its Health Department where members of the public can take paper for recycling.Lawrence said the Mayor was also looking at initiating a project to address the shopping bag problem.The Environmental Conservation Committee has recommended that a by-law be passed to introduce environmentally friendly grocery bags.This will be accompanied by a competition for the public to design a re-usable shopping bag.”People have to be encouraged to start using their own bags when going shopping,” said Lawrence.Rod Braby, Chief Warden of MET, said the worst areas were the popular fishing spots.As much as 50 per cent of rubbish collected consists of beer bottles, especially South African brands.Other rubbish collected in large quantities includes plastic water bottles, empty bait boxes, nappies, plastic shopping bags and fish guts.Bait boxes even have a notice printed on them not to litter, but this appears to be conveniently ignored by many anglers.Bright yellow boxes dotting open spaces can be seen for miles.Braby said for two days in a row, areas they had cleaned at Mile 8 had been littered again when they arrived the next day.On Friday canvas bags put out ahead of the cleaners were stolen.Bags already filled with rubbish and left behind to be picked up later had been emptied and the bags taken.At signs put up at popular spots asking the public not to litter, rubbish has been dumped all around the signs.Braby said it was not practical to use rubbish drums as people and animals [primarily jackals] toppled them.”People simply need to learn to take their rubbish home,” he said.He added that while people were not expected to do the same with the remains of their fishing activities, the best way to dispose of fish guts and unwanted fish was to return them to the sea.”It should not be fed to birds,” he emphasised.Swakopmund Town Health Officer Clive Lawrence, agrees with Braby.He told The Namibian that if people could take “the stuff” to the beach, they should take responsibility for removing it.At its last meeting, the Municipality’s Environmental Conservation Committee identified a joint project with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources to curb marine and beach pollution.The awareness and education campaign will aim to prevent and control waste generated by fishing vessels, fishing factories and other marine-related activities.It will also aim to create awareness of the danger, impact and effect of pollution on the marine environment and resources.Braby said it was very difficult to fine polluters as they had to be caught in the act.In January, the Walvis Bay Municipality introduced a new by-law which carries a fine of N$ 1000 or three months’ imprisonment, or both, for people caught dumping, depositing, leaving, spilling, dropping or placing anything on beaches that affected their cleanliness.This includes leaving behind bait, fish hooks or offal.Possible measures suggested by different authorities include slapping a littering levy on fishing permits, or taking away fishing permits from offenders for a period.Braby felt it would also help to encourage members of the public to recycle.Bottle banks for the recycling of glass are still placed all over Swakopmund, while the Municipality recently started a paper bank at its Health Department where members of the public can take paper for recycling.Lawrence said the Mayor was also looking at initiating a project to address the shopping bag problem.The Environmental Conservation Committee has recommended that a by-law be passed to introduce environmentally friendly grocery bags.This will be accompanied by a competition for the public to design a re-usable shopping bag.”People have to be encouraged to start using their own bags when going shopping,” said Lawrence.