Beachgoers More Afraid Of Water Pollution Than Sharks

Everybody out of the water! Beachgoers think water pollution is way scarier than sharks.

Monday, July 12, 2010 0:47 GMT

According to a survey by Barefoot Wine and Surfrider Foundation, 37 percent of swimmers say water pollution is more likely to keep them ashore than a shark scare.

Unfortunately, litter on the beach is just as common as lounge chairs and volleyballs, given that 98 percent of folks have seen trash like bottles, cigarette butts, and plastic bags polluting the seas and sands.

But the eyesore isn’t going unnoticed.

In fact, 86 percent of beachgoers find littering to be the most offensive beach behavior, followed by playing loud music, smoking, or taking up too much space.

However, 78 percent say they’ve kept things clean by picking up someone else’s beach trash.

Others who are interested in keeping the coastlines beautiful can sign up with the Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project, which travels coast-to-coast hosting beach clean-ups and ecological educational tours.