An environmental group is asking the province to take stronger measures after thousands of plastic pellets washed up on the shores of the Fraser River in Delta.
Amine Korch, chair of the Vancouver chapter of Surfrider, said two researchers were out at Annacis Island this weekend.
B次元官网网址淭heir findings, especially after the heavy rain weB次元官网网址檝e seen, was that thereB次元官网网址檚 still quite a bit of spill happening in that area,B次元官网网址� Korch told Black Press Media by phone Monday.
The researchers were specifically looking at Audley Channel, a drainage channel on Annacis Island. The pellets, called nurdles, are about five millimetres in diameter and go on to be made into plastic items like bottles, containers and lids.
Korch said the pellets end up in the environment mainly through transportation.
B次元官网网址淭here is a large concentration around train tracks, outside the warehouses, around the storm drains in those areas,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淎s a result of the storm drainage, they end up in this channel. Once they end up in the Fraser River, itB次元官网网址檚 really just storms and winds that make them travel all over the area.B次元官网网址�
All it would take, Korch noted, is for the companies or government to install storm drain covers to keep the pellets out.
Korch said the nurdle-watching project, which started on Vancouver Island, has reported the small pellets around the islandB次元官网网址檚 coast and as far up as the Sunshine Coast.
And while they are ugly when they wash up, Korch said thereB次元官网网址檚 a much bigger issue.
B次元官网网址淚t ends up being eaten by fish,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e have reports of people fishing in the Fraser River and the salmon that they findB次元官网网址� they find a bunch of pellets inside. TheyB次元官网网址檙e not even safe for consumption.B次元官网网址�
Birds, turtles and a lot of marine wildlife ingest them as well, he said.
Korch declined to name the companies on Annacis Island that produced these plastic pellets, but said there are a few right beside the Audley Channel.
He said he also wants to see a better spill response, as when liquids are dumped into waterways.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a bit outrageous,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of response to [a liquids spill]: ThereB次元官网网址檚 cleaning teams, people install boomsB次元官网网址� but when it comes to these plastic pellets, thereB次元官网网址檚 almost no response to it.B次元官网网址�
The researchers report their findings in letters to the province and to its RAPP line, he said, urging anyone who finds the pellets along waterways or near storm drains to do the same by calling 1-877-952-7277.
A map of where the researchers find pellets can be found here: .
Black Press Media has reached out to the environment ministry and the City of Delta for comment.
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