Professor Ramesh Babu delivered an insightful talk addressing the critical global issue of plastic pollution during the Coastwatch Autumn Shore Survey 2024 event. His presentation showcased the findings of marine litter analyses conducted by researchers Siva Ponnupandian and Jessica De Micco as part of the Coastal Plastic Litter Survey. He also emphasized the significance of emerging bio-based alternative plastics and their management, referencing projects funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ireland (BioPost) and the ReBioCycle initiative led by BiOrbic, Bioeconomy SFI Research Centre, under the guidance of Amanda Mathieson.

The Coastwatch Autumn 2024 survey involved over 1,000 citizens who comprehensively assessed Ireland’s coastal environments. The findings were categorized into marine litter, biodiversity, and plastic pollution. These results were disseminated at a dedicated launch event and workshop held on November 21, 2024, at Trinity College Dublin.