Recently, on the east coast of England, a wildlife organization reported a concerning incident. In the North Sea near the coast of East Yorkshire, an oil tanker named Stena Immaculate collided with a cargo ship named Solong. After the accident, plastic pellets known as "nurdles" were washed up on local beaches.

Image: Pexels/Suzy Hazelwood

The collision caused the Solong to catch fire, resulting in the unfortunate death of a crew member. At the same time, several liters of jet fuel and other materials, including plastic pellets, were released into the North Sea. According to data from the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and Norfolk Wildlife Trust, four small patches of nurdles have been mapped and recorded during the investigation. In a joint statement, these trusts said: "Although these patches are relatively small, they still raise concerns for the natural environment."

The relevant authorities have acted swiftly, deploying vessels to attempt to fish out pollutants from the sea and coordinating efforts to collect any pollutants that have washed ashore. Kevin Hart, the Conservation Director of Norfolk Wildlife Trust, pointed out that the plastic materials swept away could pose a serious danger to wildlife. He stated: "If seabirds ingest nurdles, they may die from suffocation or starvation." He also added that this plastic could affect large marine mammals that feed on fish or large animals that consume this material through the food chain. Hart mentioned that the risk increases further when other pollutants, such as oil, adhere to the plastic pellets. He called on the public to report sightings of nurdles promptly but not to touch them, as they may be contaminated with toxic pollutants.

Although collision events like those between Stena Immaculate and Solong are relatively rare, the amount of plastic entering the world's oceans and rivers remains a serious environmental issue. According to data from the environmental pressure group Surfers Against Sewage, about 12 million tons of plastic are dumped into the sea each year along the north coast of Cornwall, accounting for 80% of all marine pollution research subjects.