On 25 September, the University of Bergen (UiB), the UNAI SDG 14 Hub Chair for Life Below Water, organized a coastal cleanup for students and staff. As last year, the destination was Lisle Lyngøy, often referred to as “Plastic Island” off the coast of Hellesøy. The day was filled with strong impressions — and some good news for the island’s ecosystem.

An important initiative with University of Bergen’s Plastics Network Initiative

The bus carrying students and staff headed towards Hellesøy and the boat to Lisle Lyngøy, marking the sixth time UiB and its partners arranged a cleanup during the national “Beach Cleanup Week.”

“With clear skies and a motivated group, the day was filled with positive energy and strong commitment from all involved,” said Professor Odd André Karlsen. He leads the UiB Plastics Network, which organized the event with UiB’s Sustainability Pilots, Bergen og Omland Friluftsråd (BOF), and Naturvernforbundet Hordaland.

“The Plastics Network aims to combat plastic pollution. One of the most important actions one can participate in is cleaning up plastic waste — especially along the coast, where the influx of debris is high throughout the year. Organizing these cleanups is crucial for raising awareness and engagement. Many participants are surprised to see just how much plastic waste accumulates in our coastal and shoreline areas,” said Karlsen.

Research findings and a ray of hope

From 2018 to 2023, Lisle Lyngøy was the site of a research project led by NORCE, a Norwegian research institute, in collaboration with UiB, Clean Shores Global, and TAM NJFF Hordaland. The aim was to investigate how plastic waste affects nature, and whether cleanup efforts can help lessen these impacts.

The project concluded that although several negative effects of plastic pollution on the ecosystem can be documented, cleanup efforts can reduce these effects. One notable finding was a dramatic reduction in microplastics following repeated cleanups.

The island gained national attention through the Plasthavet documentary (2021), which revealed that caddis-fly larvae were using plastic fragments to build their protective cases — normally made of natural materials such as twigs, straw, or grains of sand. The ecological impact of this behaviour remains uncertain, but the image of larvae encased in plastic became a striking symbol.

Since the cleanup last year, there was anticipation about how much plastic had returned and whether microplastics were still affecting local species. This year brought promising news: there was significantly less visible microplastic on the island’s surface. The caddis-fly larvae observed this time were using natural building materials, not plastic.

Persistent challenges

Despite improvements, Lisle Lyngøy cannot be declared free of plastic pollution. Researcher Marte Haave explained that the embankment the students helped clean had formed over decades as plastic debris washed ashore. The soil is estimated to consist of more than 70 percent plastic. To demonstrate this, she dug just a few centimetres below the surface, immediately revealing both macro- and microplastics.

Garbage bags filled quickly. In just over an hour, more than 70 kilograms of plastic were collected.

Although 70 kilograms may not sound like a large amount, even small quantities of plastic can cause serious harm to marine life. Many recall the “Plastic Whale,” which stranded near Sotra in 2017. UiB researchers removed more than 30 plastic bags and large plastic sheets from its stomach, concluding that the whale had become ill because the plastic blocked its digestive system. Today the skeleton and the plastic found inside it are displayed at the University Museum.

Karlsen expressed gratitude to this year’s partners and added, “We also want to thank the UiB Climate Fund for the grant that made this year’s cleanup possible. We’re absolutely planning to repeat the initiative next autumn.”

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