Hundreds of people decided to clean up the province’s beaches on Sunday after a Nurdle spill.
Millions of the plastic pellets fell from a container that was damaged during a storm earlier this month, and they pose a threat to many marine species.
“The fact that they’ve got into the sea and that they’re on the beach is the problem. They look very attractive as a food source… a whole range of animals see them as food… right now if they ingest it, there is the possibility that it could cause blockage in their digestive system which means they will eventually starve,” says Joan Porter from Ushaka Sea World.
Drizit Environmental has been appointed to manage clean-up operations.
Meanwhile, the SABC contacted the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) following alleged reports that MSC had claimed responsibility for the Nurdle spill.
The company says inquiries as well as scientific analysis to determine the origin of the pellets, are not yet conclusive. It says it is however voluntarily assisting with the clean-up.
