What are these tiny mystery plastic pellets inundating city coast?

Nurdles are tiny plastic granules, less than 5 mm in size, used in the manufacturing of various plastic products

The problem of nurdles, or plastic pellets, washing ashore on the beaches in Palghar and Mumbai shows no signs of abating. After being found on beaches in Palghar and Aksa, a large bag of nurdles was discovered on Juhu beach last Wednesday.

Individuals concerned working in marine conservation are urging the authorities to address this issue promptly, as it could escalate further. Some speculate that a container from a ship may have fallen into the sea, causing the nurdles to spread. Marine Life of Mumbai, a flagship project of the Coastal Conservation Foundation, shared images of the nurdles on its Instagram page after receiving reports from Aksa beach on Monday.

Initially, the authorities believed the washed-up items at Aksa beach might be jellies or salp

Initially, the team believed the washed-up items along the high-tide line at Aksa beach might be jellies or salp. However, upon closer investigation, they identified them as plastic nurdles. These tiny granules, less than 5 millimetres in size, are used in the manufacturing of various plastic products.

Nurdles pose a severe threat to marine life as they closely resemble the food consumed by many species. When ingested, they can harm marine organisms and disrupt the food chain, impacting the communities that rely on these ecosystems. Birds are also at risk once the nurdles wash ashore, as they may mistake them for food. Observations showed that some crows were feeding on the nurdles.

Shaunak Modi, co-founder of the Coastal Conservation Foundation, expressed concern over the potential disaster caused by nurdles washing ashore. He emphasised the danger they pose to marine life, the food chain, and the communities dependent on these ecosystems. Shaunak reported the issue to the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) a few days ago, urging them to take urgent corrective action and investigate the source of the nurdles.

A container from a ship may have fallen into the sea, causing the nurdles to spread on Juhu beach

"I hope the authorities investigate its source and take corrective action on an urgent basis," Shaunak stated. The situation demands immediate attention and action to prevent further harm to the marine environment and the livelihoods of communities relying on it.

Previous instance

In May 2021, the cargo ship MV X Press Pearl caught fire 10 miles off the Sri Lankan coast, releasing around 75 billion nurdles into the Indian Ocean. The consequence of this disaster was evident as entire beaches became blanketed with a thick layer of these tiny plastic pellets. The Coastal Conservation Foundation has taken an active role in addressing this issue and is seeking the help of coastal residents and visitors. They encourage people to look for these plastic pellets along the coastline and share photos with the foundation. This information will aid the team in assessing the scale of the problem and understanding its distribution across the coast.