How can we clean up ocean plastics?

Narrator: Did you know that Wales is a world leader in clean-up conservation?

This means our beaches are among the safest and cleanest in the world.

This is Newgale in Pembrokeshire.

It's a Blue Flag beach, which is a national award given, because it's super clean and has excellent water quality.

But even the most litter-free beaches can be easily spoilt by rubbish that's hidden underwater.

Sadly, some people use the ocean like a rubbish tip.

Plastics are a particular problem, because they take so long to break down.

Often, it can take around 500 years.

Would you believe that as much as 12 million tonnes of plastic gets dumped into our oceans every year?

That's the same as over 9 million cars going into the sea.

The majority of this plastic sinks to the ocean floor.

And all this can be a big threat to animals, and even us.

You might not believe it when you're standing on a beautiful sandy beach like this,but out there, under the water, things aren't always as clean as you may think.

One group of volunteer scuba-divers based in Pembrokeshire have decided to do something about it, and are making a real difference.

Meet David Kennard.

He started a group called the Neptune's Army of Rubbish Cleaners – shortened to NARC.

David: NARC is a scuba-diving group who perform underwater litter picks.

I thought now's a good time to make a difference and try and find other people who want to be part of that difference as well.

Narrator: Lots of different people become NARC volunteers.

David: We've got all sorts. Well, for instance, I'm a plumber. We've got people who are builders, doctors, nurses, taxi drivers. You know, it's like, it works on passion.

Narrator: One of the biggest challenges for David and his team working underwater is poor visibility off the Pembrokeshire coast.

David: I mean, to dive in UK waters, they say if you can dive here, you can dive anywhere in the world. You know, sometimes we're diving with visibility with about a metre, a metre and a half.

Narrator: But over the years, David and the team have come across some extraordinary finds.

David: The rubbish that we would find on the seabed can range from anything, you know. We've had clothes lines, lawnmowers, push bikes, skateboards. Loads of stuff. A few years back, we found a car sat upright on the seabed.

Narrator: The NARC team also work with local fishing groups. Today, they are finding lost lobster pots and fishing nets.

Lost fishing gear, like nets, traps and pots, are things that affect the marine environment today.

Marine is the word that describes oceans and seas.

Fishing gear that is either lost or left by fishing teams drift into the oceans, then trap, tangle and kill marine life.

This is called ghost fishing.

These nets and pots drift into the oceans like ghosts, catching and killing marine life.If a lost fishing line and its hook are shimmering in the sun, fish see it as prey, and something to go for.

NARC spend lots of time rescuing marine wildlife and try to untangle the animals from the plastic fishing lines, releasing them without harm.

David: We go out and retrieve and rescue as much wildlife as we can.

Narrator: Plastic is the biggest threat to the ocean habitat. It's the most common type of litter to be thrown into the ocean.

David: If the scientists are right, by the time we get to 2048, they're predicting there'll be more plastics in the sea than fish. I would love to think that NARC could be something positive that could postpone that or make it that it's not the case.

Narrator: To help, we need to stop throwing plastics and other rubbish into our oceans.We need to treat the ocean with respect – it is not a rubbish dump. And one thing you can do which can make a huge difference is to use less single-use plastic, like:

Plastic bags

Plastic water bottles

…and switch to using more eco-friendly materials.

Half of all plastics around today have been made in the last 15 years. Do we really need so much plastic packaging? And if we don't, what can we use instead?