News 
Help MCS make Beachwatch 2010 the biggest ever
Beachwatch Big Weekend 2010 takes place in September and MCS hopes more people than ever will clean up >> More
Swift reaction as charity bans balloons
A charity whose balloon entangled a swift in flight has told MCS it won't do any further balloon releases >> More
MCS outlines fears for Gulf oil spillage
MCS reveals the damage to wildlife and habitats that could result from continuing Gulf oil spill disaster >> More
Big beach clean success for MCS and Radio 1
North Wales students get down and dirty as they collect 50 bags of rubbish in return for tickets > > More
MCS in Radio 1 volunteer initiative
MCS help Radio 1 listeners clean a North Wales beach in return for Big Weekend tickets >> More
MCS and Coast magazine clean up in Norfolk
The 'Coast' annual Beachclean in Wells - 80 litter pickers braved the weather to spring clean >> More
Hard to swallow - the real horror of plastic litter
View with caution - shocking footage of a herring gull mistaking a plastic bag for food >> More
MCS on the dangers of sewage overflow pipes
MCS Coastal Pollution Officer, Tom Bell tells BBC R4 'You and Yours' why overflow sewage pipes need tighter regulation. Listen here >> More
'Shore' is a load of rubbish!
Visit Bay Art Gallery in Herne Bay between the 25th May and 5th June to see an exhibition on beach litter that might make you think slightly differently about it! www.bayartgallery.co.uk
MCS and Fred join forces to tackle trash
Litter traveller, Fred the Monkey, has arrived at MCS to help promote our beach clean efforts. Read his story here >> More
MCS blog from Coastal Cleanup meeting in Mexico
Emma from the MCS and Fred are at the ICC conference in Cancun - follow her blog here >> More
UK beaches under a plastic tide
Latest MCS Beachwatch Report reveals plastic litter up 121% since 1994 as political parties take up marine litter challenge >> More
Plastic rubbish gathers in Atlantic
Floating Atlantic dumping ground is result of throw away culture says MCS >> More
MCS Beachwatch 2010 - 18th/19th September
Beachwatch Big Weekend 2010 will be over the 18th and 19th September. Register now to clean your favourite beach >> More
Wales going plastic bag free
The Welsh Government plans to introduce a charge on all plastic bags by 2011. You can help your town go "bag free">> More
Competition winner
Congratulations to Jacki Clark, who wins our "Face of Beachwatch" photo competition. Hover over the Beachwatch tab to see the photo in all its glory!
What do you think?
Plastic manufacturers are trying to find out what impact their products have on the environment. "About time" we say! They have launched a group called Plastics 2020 Challenge and want you to say what you think the plastics industry should do >> More
Charity kicks out balloons
The charity Pancreatic Cancer UK has agreed not to release balloons. Find out why we’re working on balloons >> More
MCS storm sewer campaign
MCS, in association with The Sunday Times magazine, has kicked off a new sewage pollution campaign. We're asking beach visitors to report to MCS any sewer overflow pipes that you see polluting beaches or the sea >> More
Help MCS turn the tide on pollution
Pollution from sewers, farmland and city streets is a serious concern at almost half of the UK's bathing beaches, and beach litter levels are at their highest since records began. On average that means about two items for every step you take on the beach!
Litter and sewage pollution is not only an eyesore but is also a danger to the amazing wildlife in our seas and on our beaches. We want to see action taken to reduce litter levels on our beaches by half by 2015 and to see a drop in sewage pollution.
View the following video, taken from the BBC series Tropic of Cancer, to see the problems caused by plastic. Presenter Simon Reeve says "This is a colossal problem that we really need to address" - watch to find out why:
Turning the tide on litter - what needs to happen?
MCS calls on the Government, industry and the public to make changes to help stem this tide of litter. Download our backing paper to see the MCS recommendations on pollution.
MCS Pollution team – what we do
Every year we work with thousands of volunteers to monitor the litter on our beaches through our Beachwatch programme. Using the data we collect from our surveys, we run campaigns on areas of particular concern, such as plastic bags and balloon releases.
Our latest campaign is to lobby UK Governments to produce an action plan to tackle marine litter, and for them to appoint one agency to coordinate these efforts. Help us to achieve this aim by signing our petition.
We also report on the state of our bathing waters through the Good Beach Guide. As part of this campaign we are asking everyone who sees one to report overflowing sewer pipes to us.
