Micro plastics, which pose a significant dangers to wildlife who mistake the plastic fragments for food, have been found to be washed up along the Fylde Coastline – including St. Anne’s Beach.  These toxic micro plastics can cause severe harm to wildlife which may accidentally swallow and ingest them

Emily Parr, Fylde beach care officer, has shared this message: ‘LOVEmyBEACH are aware of significant levels of micro plastics washing up on Fylde Coast beaches, particularly around the tide lines. The first reports came in on Thursday and unfortunately we are still receiving new reports daily. The most significant amounts have been found around Rossall Beach. However, we also have reports at Fleetwood, Norbreck, Central and South Blackpool and St Annes beaches.’

She continued, ‘We are extremely concerned about this pollution incident as micro plastics pose a significant danger to wildlife, who might mistake the fragments for food. LOVEmyBEACH are working alongside the local councils, the Environment Agency, United Utilities, Living Seas North West and Wyre Rivers Trust to investigate a potential source and ensure this does not happen again.’

Emily also asks for help from Lytham St. Anne’s News readers, ‘We are asking you to share any images and reports of sightings to the LOVEmyBEACH social media pages, to help us build a log of the incident.’

Polluting our seas and oceans, there is an increasing world-wide concern about these micro plastics which come from a variety of materials including bottles, plastic bags, certain cosmetics and synthetic clothing.