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Wildlife Trusts – the federation of 46 independent wildlife conservation charities across the country – reported a surge of public interest in marine life and coastal species due to this year's pandemic.
This has resulted in a rich variety of fascinating photos and video footage – but PPE has become a mark of the human footprint in 2020.
'Disposable PPE gloves and face masks were everywhere this summer and our beach cleans find it every time,' said Ruth Williams, marine conservation manager at Cornwall Wildlife Trust.
A disposable face mask on the beach in Yorkshire this year. Although they keep out pathogens effectively, single-use masks have a long afterlife after they are discarded, ending up in oceans