Millions Of Plastic Pellets Wash Up In Spain

In Spain, hundreds of volunteers sifted through sandy beaches with colanders and shovels in the Galicia region after millions of plastic pellets washed up, triggering environmental concerns and a political blame game, as reported by Reuters Sustainable Switch.

The millions washed up in Spain came from at least one container that fell from a Liberia-registered vessel chartered by shipping giant Maersk off the coast of neighboring Portugal last month.

Known as mermaid tears or nurdles, the pellets are used to produce everyday items from water bottles to shopping bags and are known to add to the problem of plastic making its way into the world's oceans and rivers.

The millions washed up in Spain came from at least one container that fell from a Liberia-registered vessel chartered by shipping giant Maersk off the coast of neighboring Portugal last month.

The pellets were manufactured by Bedeko Europe. Deputy Prime Minister Maria Jesus Montero said the government was worried about possibly "serious repercussions" but did not yet know the exact impact and if it would affect fishing.

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