Litter of the Thames minutes, Monday March 23rd2015

Thames Estuary Partnership,

26 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AP

Attendees

Tanya Ferry, Chair (TF) / Port of London Authority (PLA)
Pat Fitzsimons (PF) / Thames Estuary Partnership (TEP)
Clare Priestley (CP) / Thames Estuary Partnership (TEP)
Paul Clark (PC) / Natural History Museum
Brian Clark (BC) / British Marine Federation
Debbie Leach (DL) / Thames 21
Dave Morritt (DM) / Royal Holloway College
Adrian Whyle (AW) / Plastics Europe

Apologies

Rebecca Carter (RC) / London Aquarium
Joe Churchman(JC) / EcoTales
Tomas Maes / CEFAS
Gerard Morgan / Transport for London
FatemahAbidi / Global Oceans

Minutes and Matters Arising

Actions of meeting of December 16th 2014

Correct the spelling of Dave Morritt and Rebecca Carter’s names.[ACTION]

TF reported that the RYA and Green Blue Project will be separate members of the group but may not necessarily attend every meeting.

Representation on the Litter group

TF also reported that the PLA needed to determine who would attend from Thames Tideway Tunnel, possibly Suzanne Burgoyne.[ACTION]

The Local waste recyclingboard is suggested as an additional invite the Project Officer to the next meeting.[ACTION]

Group aims to engage with other users, canoeists, ramblers etc. All to identify potential members [ACTION]

PF to send contacts from the Federation of Small Businesses and Cross River to TF [ACTION complete]

TEP to share emails and phone numbers of group members. [ACTION]

Marine Conservation Society (MCS) – PF to continue sending out newsletter to group. DL and AW represent the Litter group on this forum.

Awareness Raising

TF stated the aim of the group’s mission is to reduce litter in the Thames, principally by changing attitudes of the public, commuters, and users of the Thames (walkers, tourists etc). Making clear that litter should not be dropped or allowed to be blown into the river.

Articles -The PLAwrote an article on inland freight for The Environmentalist and will do something on marine litter later in the year. TF to keep the group updated.

Webpage –TEP use circulated information on litter for the TEP website. [ACTION]

BC requested that the group had an identity logo for publications, and potentially a leaflet that he could share with his groups. TF stated that she would ask the PLA communications team to mock up a logo and strap line. [ACTION]

All members of group to ask their contacts to include this in what they are producing anyway [ACTION]

Evidence Group

DL reported that the Evidence Group is developing a portfolio of research projects to examine litter in waterways. The group is developing a Horizon 2020 bid.

PF asked if a UCL contact would be helpful on the Evidence Group. Eva Block is the link to Defra and Horizon 2020. DL to send Horizon 2020 concept note to PF. [ACTION]

DL asked how often anglers catch litter on their hooks? We could gain this insight from engaging with anglers.

PF stated that the TEP Fisheries Action Group could be used to access fishermen for the Evidence Group if needed. DL to inform PF. [ACTION]

TF to send government litter consultation and enquiry to all group members [ACTION complete]

Sector updates

Royal Holloway University of London

DM Joe Churchman (JC) came to Royal Holloway Science Festival and worked with children to turn plastic water bottles into flowers. Ecotalesare planning a large scale schools project in 2015 – 16. JC will update the group when the plans are confirmed .

DM will circulate the poster created for the Science Week ‘Do River Thames animals eat plastics?’ to the group [ACTION complete]

TF will circulate poster about how long it takes for specific substances to biodegrade in water provided by British Canoe association. [ACTION complete]

Natural History Museum

Having looked into crustacean & fish stomach contents, the next aspect to investigate is seal stomach contents. Brian Smith is responsible for collecting cetaceans for the museum. The Seal management plan has been developed by ZSL and might be able to contribute to working with NHM to potentially work together.

PC will send the article on marine litter once it is finalised. [ACTION]

Plastics Europe

AW reported on a wide range of plastics recycling initiatives throughout the European Union dealing with behavioural change and marine litter. AW reported that plastics are dropped as far away as Spain and end up in Southend-on-Sea. TF requested AW to let the group know the group could learn from this work and apply locally. [ACTION]

Thames 21

DL – Big Count – 4 days of intensive monitoring of litter in the water. The event to report the results at the London Aquariumwas very successful and well attended.

TF asked if the PBA is interested in monitoring under Thames Watch in the Thames. DL to send BC a one page proposal and BC to gauge interest from the PBA. [ACTION]

DL to share the Thames 21 Big count leaflets that were popular at the Royal Holloway Science Festival. [ACTION]

Meeting ended 15.45

Next quarterly meeting- Monday June 15th p.m.

ACTIONS

December minutes - Correct the spelling of Dave Morritt and Rebecca Carter’s names / Clare Priestley
Invite Suzanne Burgoyne from the Thames Tideway Tunnel / Tanya Ferry
GLA Project Officer to the next meeting / Tanya Ferry
Suggestions for other group members / All
Send contact from the Federation of Small Businesses and Cross River to TF / Pat Fitzsimons Completed
Collate information on litter for the TEP website / Pat Fitzsimmons
A logo and strap line. All members of group to ask their contacts to include this in what they are producing anyway / All
Send Horizon 2020 concept note to PF / Debbie Leach
Inform PF if TEP Fisheries Action Group could be used to access fishermen for the Evidence Group / Debbie Leach
Share government litter consultation / Tanya FerryCompleted
Circulate poster / Dave Morritt
Circulate British Canoe / Tanya Ferry
PC will send the article on marine litter once it is finalised / Paul Clark
Provide updates to apply in local group / Adrian Whyle
Send BC Thames watch information. BC to gauge interest from the PBA / Debbie Leach/Brian Clarke
Supply copies of the Big Count leaflets to group / Debbie Leach