Campaign To Stop People Using Plastic Bottles Features 'Disgusting' Images

A series of popular fish and seafood dishes have received drastic and eye-opening makeovers to highlight how they might look by 2050, if we keep using plastic bottles and other single use plastics. 

The images, described as 'disgusting' by their makers, are designed to show the dangers humankind faces as a result of plastic waste being dumped into our oceans - these include diminishing fish stocks and micro plastics in our food.

They were put together by marine conservation charity PADI Aware Foundation and their partner Virgin Pure, to 'help hammer home the issues of plastic pollution'. 

The plastic used in the photos was fished out of the sea off the coast of the UK by PADI Aware Foundation's divers.

PADI Aware said:

'Imagine tucking into a hearty portion of fish and chips, or a comforting fish pie, but instead of eating fish, you’re confronted with dirty, discarded plastic. The starkly damning image of whole fish replaced by plastic waste could well be a reality by 2050, when research predicts there will be more plastic than fish in our oceans. It may seem an extreme image, but it is already happening, albeit invisibly; studies continue to reveal how much we consume in the form of microplastics in our food and water.'

Data from PADI AWARE Foundation, which works with scuba divers across the world to remove plastic waste from the seas, found:

• The average Londoner still buys more than three SUP water bottles every week, an eye-watering 175 bottles every year per person.
• In total, some 7.7 billion plastic bottles are bought across the UK each year.
• There are over 8 million pieces of plastic entering the ocean each day.
• There's an estimated 46,000 pieces of plastic in the ocean for every square mile, with the majority (80%) of that plastic coming from the land.
• Researchers believe that between 10 and 30% of fish in any sample will be contaminated with microplastics. These plastics are not only ingested by animal life, but through the water we drink and the food we eat. 

Danna Moore, Global Director, PADI AWARE Foundation adds:

“We hope this campaign helps bring to life just how severe the problem is, and encourages people to do better, get involved in ocean conservation and cut down on single-use plastic bottles.

"Whether you are a certified diver, a fisherman or a small child building a sandcastle at the local beach, the declining health of the oceans affects us all.

Tom Stazicker, CEO of Virgin Pure, comments:

"None of us want to be consuming plastic, visible or not. Our products filter out harmful substances like chlorine, rust and microplastics that are commonly found in regular tap water, giving a better reason than ever before for people to stop buying bottled water.

"We’re delighted to be supporting the work that PADI AWARE Foundation does by partnering them, and proud to be able to offer a solution for those who want to kick the plastic bottle habit for good.”

To donate to PADI Aware Foundation, visit: https://netdonor.net/page/81717/donate/1

More information on research and studies can be found on the PADI Aware website.