Protecting UK Waters & Tackling Ocean Pollution: Ocean Conservation in Action with Ecotribo and Surfers Against Sewage
- carrielove1217
- May 28
- 7 min read
Ecotribo is all about teaming up with the right people -because protecting our natural environment from ocean pollution is a challenge none of us should face alone.
We're proud to stand alongside the incredible crew at Surfers Against Sewage as official affiliates as we continue our mission to clean our coasts through ocean conservation.
The ocean that we love is a vital source of life, climate regulation, and biodiversity. Yet, it faces unprecedented threats from pollution; particularly untreated human and industrial sewage and of course, plastics.
In the UK, grassroots organisations like Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) have been at the forefront of combating these issues, advocating for cleaner waters and mobilising communities to take action for 35 years. As this message has entered the mainstream it is clear their work is gaining traction. They also provide an invaluable source of data that drives policy and demands more urgent action from regulatory bodies. Water companies discharging untreated waste into rivers, lakes and coastal areas is no longer a dirty secret.
The coverage of this practice as business-as-usual sewage pollution is now a pressing concern in the UK, with more of us speaking up to protect the places we love and testimonies of health concerns are more often reported in the mainstream media. To date we are witnessing the water corporations squirming against their uncomfortable press; but so far sanctions and fines have not been forthcoming. We need to keep up the pressure, and we need the support of each other to make that pressure felt.
At Ecotribo we are proud to be affiliated with Surfers Against Sewage and believe the more of us the better on this to keep pressure on profiteering companies to make the changes necessary to deal with demand. And to do so out of their own well lined pockets rather than putting out their hands to the beleagured general public. Us.
The Scope of the Problem
In 2024 alone, Surfers Against Sewage received 1,853 sickness reports through its Safer Seas & Rivers Service app, averaging five people falling ill daily after polluted water exposure. These health issues range from gastrointestinal illnesses to skin infections, highlighting with alarming clarity the direct impact of polluted waters on public health. Source oceanographicmagazine
Grassroots Mobilisation: Paddle-Out Protests
On May 17, 2025, thousands of us across the UK participated in "Paddle-Out" protests organised by SAS, demonstrating against the ongoing sewage crisis. These events, held in over 40 locations, saw surfers, swimmers, and environmentalists unite to demand accountability from water companies and stricter regulations to prevent sewage discharges.
Holding Polluters Accountable
The increasing public pressure has led to a surge in investigations against UK water companies. Since July 2024, 81 investigations have been initiated, averaging nine per month, a significant rise from the previous average of 3.6. This crackdown aims to address the environmental violations committed by companies prioritising profits over infrastructure, woefully suffering from underinvestment in the 30 years since privatisation. Source:The Times
'SAS’s report further questions where the billions funded through bill payments is going, highlighting that, despite new regulations and laws intended to reduce profit from pollution, shareholders were paid £1.2 billion in 2023-24 whilst record hours of raw sewage discharged into England’s waters.' Oceanographic Magazine
Here in Devon there are many schemes in process that are addressing the excessive run off rates from agriculture and denatured waterways. there is strong evidence to support planting woodland in appropriate locations can assist the achievement of water management and water quality objectives,These efforts are supported by organizations like Devon Wildlife Trust, Devon County Council, North Devon Biosphere, and the Environment Agency.
Plastic Pollution - ugh it’s EVERYWHERE!
Plastic pollution is our focus at Ecotribo, which as we know is another significant threat to marine ecosystems and human health that is now, thankfully more widely reported on. Surfers Against Sewage has been instrumental in combating plastic pollution through various initiatives over the years too.
Their "Brand Audit" campaign identifies the top polluters contributing to beach litter, holding corporations accountable for their environmental impact. However, the dubious efforts of large corporations making mllions off their packaged consumables have most recently resulted in the lids being attached to the bottle. Another half baked attempt to put the focus on us as consumers to take responsibility for their irresponsible packaging.
Recent data reveals a 9.5% increase in plastic waste on UK beaches in 2024 compared to the previous year. This persistent problem not only mars the natural beauty of our coastlines but also poses severe risks to marine life and human health. Source:Marine Conservation Society
To keep the plastic resulting from consumables out of the ocean in the first place SAS also advocates for a UK-wide deposit return scheme to encourage recycling and reduce single-use plastic waste. source: Surfers Against Sewage
We seemingly have less effect on the issue of fishing net ocean pollution. As recent films such as David Attenborough’s Ocean have highlighted, the enormous scale of devastation wreaked on the marine environment is beyond comprehension. There are clearly systems in place that are corrupt and far from sustainable.
‘marine life can no longer move freely without the risk of entanglement in items such as discarded fishing gear. Once caught, animals may become strangulated or immobilised, leaving them vulnerable to predators - and if they are not freed, the outcome is often fatal.’ source: mcsuk.org
The Threat of Microplastics
The urgency of removing plastics from the water is emphasized by the greater research done on the effect of microplastics, the devastating end result of plastic degradation in the environment, with recent studies discovering microplastic in human placenta and brains. source:the Guardian
How has this come to be so ubiquitous and widespread? Again the data gathered by scientific studies have found microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of ‘commercially important’ fish species in the UK, source:ScienceDirect In other words, the food chain is infected at every level from the marine environment and is transferred to us humans through ingestion of our traditional diet.
Case Studies: Pollution's Impact on UK Marine Environments
Contamination of Mussel Farms in Lyme Bay
In southern England, Europe's largest offshore mussel farm in Lyme Bay has faced poisoning from sewage, despite being situated far offshore to avoid such pollution. This contamination has hindered exports due to high bacteria levels, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of inadequate waste management on industries and local economies.source: Reuters
On world ocean day in 2018, a study of microplastics in mussels reported that 100 per cent of mussels sampled by scientists from the Universtity of Hull and Brunel Universtity London from around the UK coast contained microplastics. As an island nation, how have we hampered our own economy and opportunities for healthy, fresh produce by allowing profiteering corporations to line their own pockets? Well, decisively of course. And we have now got to the point where there is nowhere left for the rich to hide. Water is water. It covers 70% of the planet and makes up a similar amount of our bodies. Water is life and we have allowed money and greed to contaminate it for everyone.
Individual Actions: Making a Difference
The Power of Beach Cleans
We need to balance the diagnosis with the cure. As huge as the problem appears to be, at Ecotribo we believe in the power of creativity in action and ardently hold to the trust that devastation is not the end point.
"So what action can we take ... and what does it achieve!? "
We start with our coastlines first…taking part in beach cleans is a tangible and surprisingly effective way that we can combat ocean pollution. It may feel futile to pick up yet another food wrapper and pebble eroded remnant of a mystery container, faded red and gleaming out from the seaweed on the tide line… However a Norwegian study found that after a year of regularly removing large plastic items from a shoreline, the amount of microplastics on both the shore and in the water dropped by up to 99.5% Norwegians are acutely aware of the devastating effect of plastic pollution after widespread media coverage of an emaciated whale washed up on a beach in Bergen, its stomach stuffed full of 30kg of plastic. Since this wake up call, taken to heart, despite being a whale hunting nation, they have taken to the shorelines and collected over 9000 tonnes from their coasts since 2017. source: take3
Beyond removing visible pollution, beach cleans raise awareness, foster longed for community engagement, and contribute to data collection efforts that inform policy changes. Have you ever picked through a patch of nurdles on the high tide line, wondering at the needle-in-a-haystack task before us? Be assured these efforts are not wasted. Data gathered from nurdle collections has been used as evidence to advocate for stricter regulations on plastic production and transport. source:The Guardian
Reducing Plastic Consumption
Then there's always using less of the stuff… we believe the burden of dealing with plastic should lie with the industrial producers of single use items. But hey, you could always pop an Ecotribo waterbottle in your day bag to avoid the need to buy packaged drinks…?
Our consumer choices do drive change: supporting businesses that prioritise sustainable packaging makes waves. Biodegradable packaging and other wrapping solutions have been created out of cardboard, mycellium and corn since the pressure of demand has intensified. Potato starch is successfully replacing thin plastic wrapping on books and postage, while Vegware is more and more commonplace in the offerings of fast food outlets. As ever, smaller businesses are well placed to adopt these new materials as they deal face to face with their customers asking for change. It then leaves the big corporates scrambling to catch up with the eco credential wave to look good and foster future consumer loyalty. Look at what our collective voices achieved with major play-time arenas… Glastonbury festival has banned plastic bottles since 2019 and other festivals are falling over themselves to follow suit. source:Guardian
Supporting Environmental Organisations
Joining and supporting organisations like Surfers Against Sewage amplifies our collective voice to protect our oceans. Money helps of course; through donations. The effects of being part of a movement through volunteering, beach cleaning or participating in paddle - outs is immeasurable.
Ecotribo stands for community action and attests to the positive impact on mental health by living out our hope and belief in being an active force in the movement towards cleaner, healthier marine environments.
Protecting our oceans from pollution is a collective responsibility that requires concerted efforts from individuals, communities, and organisations. Grassroots movements like Surfers Against Sewage exemplify the power of community mobilisation in driving change and holding polluters accountable. By staying informed, reducing plastic consumption, participating in clean-up activities, and supporting environmental advocacy, each person can contribute to preserving the health and vitality of our oceans for generations to come.
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