Stormy seas the 10th of October 2017 caused a marine container to spill vast numbers of plastic nurdles in Durban. Nurdles are tiny plastic particles used in the manufacture of products. The shipping company has accepted responsibility for the spill along the KwaZulu Natal coast. However, winds and coastal currents carried the pellets closer and closer. The nurdles have been reported from Nature’s Valley, soon the Garden Route and Stilbaai followed, with latest reports from Hermanus. Just as other plastics, these plastic pellets are incredibly harmful to all marine life and has to be removed from beaches as a matter of urgency,
Tersia Marais of S.M.A.R.T in Mossel Bay has coordinated volunteers to assist with collection and arranged drop-off points (as per poster) for the collected nurdles. South African Association of Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR) suggests sieves or shadenet to collect the nurdles (more information on the poster).
Tersia urges all beach users to assist with the clean up campaign.
“Ons doen ‘n beroep op al ons vriende wat in die Suid-Kaap woon of kom vakansie hou – as jy tyd het, neem ‘n kombuissif of kinder visnet en ‘n emmer en gaan na die strand naaste aan jou. Op die hoogste hoogwatermerk sal jy tussen all die ander dinge wat die see uitspoeg klein, vaal balletjies wat amper soos BB koeeltjies lyk, sien lê. Die goed word “nurdles” genoem. Hulle is lewensgevaarlik vir die meeste mariene diere. Dit het in die see beland agv ‘n storm gedurende Oktober in Durban se hawe en spoel nou ook aan ons Suid-Kaapse strande uit. Strande in die groter Mosselbaai area wat erg deurloop is Gouritz, Boggomsbaai, Vleesbaai en Grootbrakrivier. Maak ‘n verskil en help om die nurdles op te tel. Daar is verskeie versamelpunte in Mosselbaai waarvan die Shark Lab by die Punt, die maklikste bereikbaar is. Vergeet van die TV, Facebook, Twitter, ens. vir n paar uur; geniet die vars seelug en red ‘n seeskilpad deur pro-aktief te wees.”
Inligting saamgestel deur Tersia Marais van S.M.A.R.T (Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team).
Nurdles, tiny plastic particles that are washing up on beaches along the South Cape coastline.
(Photo: Tersia Marais)