I'd like to welcome the environmentalist Paula Hutton, who is going to be talking to us today about the marine environment around Britain's shores.0:05
First of all, Paula, why do you think that British people should be concerned about it?0:14
I think the main reason is pretty obvious, really.0:20
Britain is surrounded by water and has 3200km of coastline.0:23
We need to be aware of the state of the marine environment because it has a direct effect on all of us.0:28
British people always have and always will depend on the sea for many things, for food and other natural resources, for jobs and as a natural defence barrier.0:34
So, is it all bad news?0:45
As you know, many professionals, be it scientists, fishermen, divers or environmentalists like myself, have been voicing concerns over the decline of the marine environment for quite a while.0:48
The chief concern, of course, is the problem of pollution.1:01
Thankfully, the health of the marine environment is a priority for the European Union and strategies are being developed to protect it.1:04
People have now come to realize that treating the sea like a huge dustbin not only harms wildlife, but also puts human life at risk.1:12
The seas around Britain are home to over 8,000 different species of plant and animal life, and we must ensure that nothing upsets the ecological balance of their natural habitat.1:22
What kind of pollution threatens this balance?1:33
There are many forms of pollution.1:37
In the past, the dumping of chemicals and heavy metals into the sea was a serious problem.1:39
Now various regulations have put a stop to this practice, but problems still continue as a result of what was dumped in previous years.1:45
Even now, you can still find high concentrations of things like industrial chemicals and agricultural pesticides.1:53
It will take many more years before they drop to safe levels.2:01
What other things pollute our waters?2:05
Oil spills are a problem too.2:08
Whether it is spilled accidentally because of careless transport or or as a result of a devastating storm.2:10
Oil slicks cause pollution that take a very long time to clean up.2:17
With a greater number of oil platforms in the North Sea, the danger of accidental spills has increased.2:21
Unfortunately, we will probably never manage to reduce the risks to zero.2:28
What can we hope to achieve?2:33
We can work together to reduce the harmful products in our marine environment.2:35
By this, I don't just mean industrial pollution, but also plastic and aluminium packaging and other non biodegradable waste.2:40
The effects of these kinds of waste can also be devastating.2:49
All too often, seabirds swallow pieces of plastic which make them feel full and then they starve to death.2:53
Turtles and other sea animals eat plastic bags because they mistake them for food and then choked to death.2:59
We should all reduce our use of plastic packaging and participate in local recycling programs.3:06
Is there anything else we can do?3:12
How about joining a beach cleanup campaign?3:15
There are many initiatives, such as the Adopt a Beach program that allow you to help tackle the problem.3:18
Thousands of volunteers work every year to pick up and record the amount and type of litter found on our beaches.3:24
In the last 10 years, the amount of litter found around the UK coastline has doubled.3:31
So individuals need to take action now more than ever.3:36
Before it becomes too great to reverse, it is presumably in everyone's interest to deal with this problem.3:40
Yes, of course, beach litter isn't just an eyesore, it's dangerous too.3:47
But there is some good news.3:52
More and more UK beaches are being recommended for their good sea bathing quality, so it may no longer be a health hazard to go to your local beach.3:54
Before you go, check which beaches are safe at the online site the Good Beach Guide.4:03
And don't forget, the more involved you become in ensuring our beaches are clean, the more beaches there will be in the guide.4:09
Клик по слову — перевод и «+ в мои слова» (в любом режиме). Клик по строке или таймкоду — перейти к этому месту записи.