Volunteer beach cleans may only make a small contribution to controlling marine litter but could have numerous benefits to those involved and to the environment, new research suggests.

The study – published in the journal Environment and Behaviour – examined the well-being and educational value of beach cleans, their impacts on individuals’ behavioural intentions, and how that compared to other coastal activities such as rock pooling, or walking.

All three coastal activities were associated with positive mood and pro-environmental intentions, with beach cleaning and rock pooling particularly linked to higher marine awareness.

The study – Can Beach Cleans Do More Than Clean-Up Litter? Comparing Beach Cleans to Other Coastal Activities – was led by Dr Kayleigh Wyles, with the research being conducted as part of her PhD at Plymouth University and completed in her role as a Post-Doctorate Research Fellow at Plymouth Marine Laboratory.

She said: ’Whilst beach cleans are designed to tackle a prominent and increasing environmental issue (marine litter), we were able to demonstrate that they are not only beneficial for the local coastline directly by removing individual pieces of rubbish. They are also beneficial to both the individual (in terms of being an enjoyable and meaningful as well as educational experience) and the environment (as individuals reported a greater intention to engage in more environmentally responsible behaviours).’