The amount of litter in Britain’s seas has increased by more than 150% in a year, figures published by DEFRA show.

An average of 358 litter items were found per square kilometre of seabed in 2016, a 158% rise on the previous year, and 222% higher than the average for 1992-94. Almost 78% of the litter found is plastic.

The figures were revealed in a government report on the state of the environment in England, which showed that 9 of 22 environmental indicators were assessed to be deteriorating in the short-term.

Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson Tim Farron commented:

“This damning report shows the state of our natural environment is deteriorating at an alarming rate.

“It is particularly worrying to see such a sharp rise in plastic litter polluting our seas.

“Unless we take action, in a few years Blue Planet will have to be renamed Plastic Planet.

“The Government needs to get its act together and take urgent action to clean up our seas and countryside.

“The long promised 25-year plan to protect our environment needs to be published now, not simply kicked into the long grass.”

Notes

DEFRA’s England’s Natural Environment Indicators can be found here