The Silent Cost of Exploration: Human Impact on the Natural World

As we venture into the far corners of the earth, driven by curiosity, adventure, and the simple desire to connect with nature, we often leave behind more than just footprints. The following images tell how human presence – whether through pollution, climate change, or discarded materials – has become an inextricable part of the landscapes and seascapes we cherish. These snapshots reveal the subtle and not-so-subtle ways in which our actions impact the environment and its inhabitants, urging us to reflect on the role we play and how we might change our course.

While these do not cover the entire planet and are just my experiences from my limited travels the extent of damage we are doing to the environment is obvious.

These experiences were the catalyst for my Plastic Tide Project.

The Silent Entanglement: A Gannet’s Nest of Discarded Rope

In the remote Hermaness Nature Reserve in Scotland, many of the gannets in this remote colony have built their nest. Instead of solely using natural materials like seaweed and plant material, the birds have incorporated vibrant green fishing rope into their nests.

The rope, lost and discarded by the fishing industry, is a stark contrast to the rugged beauty of the cliffs and sea, highlighting the pervasive presence of human debris even in the most untouched places.

This image serves as a poignant reminder of the reach of our activities. Discarded fishing gear, or “ghost fishing gear” can entangle and harm marine life, turning vital tools into deadly hazards. This is probably the deadliest marine plastic as it is unselective on what is caught in its trap.

How We Can Make a Change: As travellers and lovers of nature, we can support organisations that remove ghost fishing gear from the oceans and advocate for sustainable fishing practices. When exploring coastal areas, participating in local beach cleanups can help reduce the debris that impacts wildlife.

Ghost Fishing UK surveys and removes discarded fishing nets from around the UK.

A Fragile Shelter: Seal Pup Seeks Refuge Behind Polystyrene Debris

On the shingle beaches of the Orkney Islands, a lone seal pup huddles behind a discarded polystyrene box, using it as a shield from the relentless wind. With its mother out fishing, the pup has found shelter in an object that should not belong in its natural environment. The box was washed ashore after being discarded.

Polystyrene, a lightweight material favoured for convenience, becomes a persistent pollutant once discarded, breaking down into microplastics that threaten marine life across the food chain.

How We Can Make a Change: We can reduce our reliance on single-use plastics by choosing reusable products and supporting bans on polystyrene in coastal communities. When visiting beaches, always take your litter with you and consider joining efforts to remove existing debris. Many beaches in Orkney now have skips that encourage every visitor to leave 3 pieces of beach debris.

The Marine Conservation Society organise beach cleans across the UK throughout the year.

Caught in the Depths: A Conger Eel Pierced by a fishing hook

Beneath the waves of the Jurassic Coast of England, a conger eel navigates the shadows of the Bagytano wreck. A fishing hook, lost to the sea, has pierced its mouth and emerged perilously close to its eye. This unintended injury illustrates the dangers of “ghost fishing,” where lost or discarded gear continues to harm marine life.

The wreck, now an artificial reef, is both a refuge and a trap, highlighting the duality of human impact on marine ecosystems. While shipwrecks can provide habitats for marine species, the debris left by human activity poses significant risks. Wrecks attract fish and at the same time attract fishing trips which inevitably result in lost lines, hooks and weights.

How We Can Make a Change: As divers and ocean lovers, we can minimise our impact by participating in underwater cleanups and supporting initiatives that focus on removing ghost gear from the ocean. Responsible fishing practices and proper disposal of gear are essential to protecting marine life.

Scars of Survival: A Seal’s Battle with Human Debris

On the sands of Donna Nook in Lincolnshire, a female seal rests, her body bearing deep, healed scars around her neck—evidence of a past entanglement with discarded debris, perhaps fishing line or rope. While the scars tell a story of survival, they also highlight the ongoing threats posed by human waste in marine environments.

The exact cause of the injury is unknown, but the scars are a testament to the dangers that invisible threats like discarded materials pose to wildlife. These materials can ensnare animals, leading to life-threatening injuries.

How We Can Make a Change: By supporting and participating in clean-up efforts, especially in coastal areas, we can help reduce the amount of debris that ends up in the ocean. Advocating for better waste management and recycling practices can also prevent such injuries to marine life.

In the UK there are a number of seal sanctuaries that support injured seals and abandoned pups.

The Deadly Deception: A Plastic Bag Drifting Like Prey

In the clear waters off Gozo, a plastic bag floats, mimicking the appearance of a jellyfish. To a passing sea turtle or fish, this bag could easily be mistaken for a meal. Once ingested, plastic can cause blockages, internal injuries, and even death, as it offers no nutrition and can poison or starve the animals that consume it.

This image illustrates the broader issue of plastic pollution in the ocean, where the deadly deception of discarded plastics leads to the suffering of countless marine species.

How We Can Make a Change: Reducing our use of single-use plastics, participating in coastal cleanups, and supporting policies that aim to reduce plastic waste are critical steps in protecting marine life. As travellers, we should be mindful of our plastic consumption and choose sustainable alternatives whenever possible. Always aim to take reusable bags with you when you travel so you are not adding to landfill.

Many dive locations across the world are involved in the Dive Against Debris programme making every dive a clean-up dive.

Invisible Threads: The Hidden Impact of Fibers on Marine Life

On a wreck off Swanage, a nudibranch feeds, seemingly oblivious to the fine fibres from man-made materials that surround it. These nearly invisible threads, likely from clothing, packaging or other synthetic sources, are easy to overlook but pose a significant threat to marine environments. While the nudibranch does not ingest these fibres, their presence disrupts the ecosystem and adds to the growing problem of micro-pollution.

The fibres, though small, can have lasting impacts on marine life, entangling creatures and degrading the quality of the habitat they rely on.

How We Can Make a Change: When diving or engaging in water-based activities, choose eco-friendly gear and clothing that reduces fibre shedding. Support efforts to reduce microplastic pollution and be mindful of the impact of synthetic materials on the environment.

Camouflaged in Contrast: The Vulnerable Mountain Hare of the Cairngorms

In the Cairngorms National Park, a mountain hare sits on a snowless hillside, its white winter coat a glaring contrast against the brown earth. As climate change disrupts seasonal patterns, the hare’s natural camouflage becomes a liability, leaving it exposed to predators like golden eagles. This image captures the unintended consequences of a warming world, where even the most well-adapted species can find themselves out of sync with their environment.

The timing of the hare’s transformation is dictated by the shortening days rather than the actual arrival of snow, a strategy that has served the species well for millennia. However, as climate change disrupts weather patterns, the hare finds itself increasingly out of sync with its environment. Warmer winters and unpredictable snowfall mean that the protective white coat, once an asset, now makes it an easy target.

How We Can Make a Change: As walkers and nature enthusiasts, we can reduce our carbon footprint by supporting conservation efforts, reducing our energy consumption, and advocating for policies that address climate change. Awareness and education about the impacts of climate change can also help protect species like the mountain hare.

Paradise Polluted: Tin Cans and Plastics Littering the Shores of Addu Atoll

On the sandy shores of Addu Atoll in the Maldives, tin cans and plastics litter the beach, a stark contrast to the island’s idyllic beauty. As tourism in the Maldives grows, so does the burden of waste management, with many small islands lacking the infrastructure to properly dispose of the influx of waste generated by visitors. The result is a polluted paradise, where the very appeal of the island is threatened by the debris left behind.

This image illustrates the environmental cost of mass tourism, where the lack of proper waste disposal can lead to significant degradation of fragile ecosystems.

How We Can Make a Change: As travellers, we can minimise our impact by reducing waste, taking reusable bottles and bags, supporting eco-friendly tourism practices, and choosing destinations that prioritise sustainability. Always research the resort or location beyond the bars and activities.

Our Responsibility as Stewards of the Planet

These images paint a vivid picture of how human activities—whether through direct pollution, climate change, or the pressures of tourism—are altering the environments we treasure. From the windswept beaches of the Orkney Islands to the clear waters off Gozo, and from the rugged hills of the Cairngorms to the shores of Addu Atoll, the impact of our presence is undeniable.

Yet, within each scenario lies an opportunity for change. By adopting more sustainable practices, raising awareness, and taking direct action, we can begin to mitigate the damage and preserve the natural world for future generations. Whether we are divers, hikers, travellers, or simply lovers of nature, we all have a role to play in safeguarding the planet.

As we continue to explore and enjoy the beauty of our world, let these images serve not only as reminders of the challenges we face but also as calls to action. Together, we can make choices that ensure our footprints are light and our legacy is one of stewardship, not destruction.