GUERNSEY is to be at the forefront of an international environmental study. The island has been chosen as one of 12 locations in the British Isles to participate in a three-year, Europe-wide marine litter project.

And the results could help shape European policies on issues like shipping and fishing.

‘Guernsey has a good role to play in this study because of its location in Channel waters which are very busy shipping and fishing grounds,’ said a Board of Administration spokesman.

‘The study’s findings will help determine European environmental policy.

‘Strategies will be devised to combat the problems and tackle the issues that are raised by the research results.

‘If, for example, the study shows fishing debris or shipping waste to be high pollutants then it is likely that measures will be implemented to curb this pollution.’

The Oslo and Paris Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the north-east Atlantic was adopted in 1992 and has concentrated on pollution issues affecting the marine environment.

The latest Ospar study is aimed at investigating trends in quantities and sources of litter in the north-east Atlantic. It is being coordinated by the Marine Conservation Society, which runs campaigns such as the annual Beachwatch survey and the Adopt-a-beach initiative.

Locally, the Board of Administration and the Marine Section of La Societe Guernesiaise will carry out the research.

‘I am delighted that the Board of Administration and La Societe Guernesiaise are working together on issues such as these which are of mutual interest,’ said board vice-president Michael Best.

‘It is particularly pleasing that this is being done as part of a wider European study.’

A 100-metre stretch of beach at Rocquaine has been chosen as the research site and will be surveyed quarterly over the next three years, starting from April.

The beach will be combed for litter with researchers noting the different types of materials and their origins. Each quarter, a visual inspection of the beach will be made at the same time to identify large items left there.

‘The choice of this stretch of beach at Rocquaine was particularly relevant in that it is exposed to prevailing winds and, as it is not one of the Seaside Award beaches, it is not cleansed of litter every day by hand. This helps make the data collated under the survey as accurate and representative as possible,’ said St Peter’s deputy Martin Ozanne.

A picture of the levels, types and amount of pollution on European beaches will be built up. The data will then be analysed and broken down to identify the types of materials, their origins and their damage to the environment.

Policy makers will use the information to help formulate European environmental policies.

Local volunteers will be needed to help with the research at Rocquaine.

‘Our parishioners take pride in their parish and I hope that, should it be necessary to enlist the help of volunteers, there will be strong support from the community,’ said Deputy Ozanne.

Last year, 248 volunteers took part in surveying more than 12km of Guernsey’s coastline as part of the Marine Conservation Society’s annual Beachwatch survey. The board believes this reflects a growing awareness of the impact of litter on the marine environment and has been instrumental in the island being chosen as a marine destination.

The board now hopes that this study will further raise public awareness in this respect and influence policy decision-making at international level.