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As part of the bigger initiative, Bhassexplore manages the marine plastic at East Sussex beach.

Phase 4 of the beach cleanliness campaign is nearing completion at Bhassexplore.

Credit: Getty image

Oceans are considered the source of life on earth, since they contain 97% of the worlds water. In addition to providing food to the majority of the population, oceans also play a prominent role in regulating our climate and absorbing hazardous carbon dioxide. Despite this, the amount of plastic we are producing every year is irreversible, causing irreversible damage to marine life. Our actions in the next 10 years will determine the condition of the ocean 10,000 years from now. Human activities are causing a significant loss of marine life. The 100% of baby sea turtles engulf plastic in their stomachs. Approximately 100,000 marine species are killed by plastic pollution every year.

Bhassexplore, a Non-Profit organisation in Eastbourne, began collecting plastic in March 2020. To date, the organisation has collected more than 7 tons of debri from the coast. The cleanliness drive has been divided into "five phases," of which four have already been carried out. The organisation has involved several clean-ups from Birling Gaps to Beachy Head, and from Cuckmere Haven to Hollywell in East Sussex. 

A group of environmentalists led by Bhassexplore's Norman Penney is on a mission to clean up the coastline between Cuckmere Haven and Holly Well in East Sussex County. The coastline stretches for six miles.  “Norman said: ‘all the coastlines are full of rubbish and need to be cleaned.” 

This organization has neither an office nor a vehicle to transport rubbish between locations. It is all coordinated by the great volunteers who work despite their busy schedule. However, Bhassexplore is in talks with Eastbourne Borough Council to get an office and a space to display the artwork created from the plastic trash collected during expeditions.

My tour of the expedition had been organized by an organisation volunteer named Beejay Mahara. Site cleanliness was carried out at that time.   “He said: ‘the volunteers have removed the plastic and other rubbish materials from the coastline which is as old as 50 years.” 

Some of the before and after pictures from Bhassexplore cleanliness drive. 

Before

After

The organisation has been working in the region since March 2020, and is about to complete its fourth phase. After completing all five phases, the organisation will move to some other coastlines in the UK. Many aspects of their achievement are noteworthy. Throughout his Bhassexplore expeditions, Norman has trained a lot of people. He considers himself fortunate.

“These anti-plastic trained forces will take care of the coastline when Bhassexplore leave the place after finishing the final phase,” said Mr. Norman. The three-year mission ends with Bhassexplore leaving Eastbourne in 2022 and continuing clear-ups along the coastlines wherever it goes.