The Isle of Man is leading the world in the way it is tackling the problem of plastic and marine pollution on beaches, according to scientists and marine experts in the USA.

The achievements of the charity Beach Buddies, and its ’exceptional engagement with the community’ was praised during a visit to the USA by the organisation’s founder Bill Dale.

He gave a series of presentations in California, Ohio and Washington DC, explaining how Beach Buddies has expanded to 8,000 volunteers since 2013.

Dr Ray Beiersdorfer, professor of geology at Youngstown University, Ohio, who had visited the Isle of Man in 2016 and took part in a beach cleaning session alongside local volunteers, said: ’You have something very special. The fact that you have had more than 8,000 different volunteers in such a short space of time is an inspiration to us all, and gives hope that the rest of the world could follow your example.’

His comments were echoed when Dr Beiersdorfer and two more Youngstown University professors visited Washington DC with Bill to meet Retired US Navy Rear Admiral Jon White, president and chief executive of the Consortium for Ocean Leadership, one of the world’s leading organisations involved in research and education programmes in the areas of ocean observing, ocean exploration and ocean partnerships.

Jon said: ’Beach Buddies is setting a great example to us all. Around 10% of your population have taken part in beach cleaning, and you have made a huge difference to your environment. If the rest of the world could get just 1% of the population involved we could transform all our beaches.’

The consortium, which has members across the world, has offered to publicise the achievements of Beach Buddies on its website and to retain a long-term association.

Bill said: ’It is amazing to think that not long ago I was walking the beach with my dogs wondering how to get a few people together to clean up the Isle of Man’s beaches, and only a few days ago I was having a meeting with the chief executive of one of the world’s leading ocean science organisations to talk about what we had achieved.

’I always knew we had something a bit special, and this was emphasised by Dr Han Qunli, head of the UNESCO Man & The Biosphere programme when he highlighted the achievements of Beach Buddies at last year’s ceremony to award the Isle of Man its Biosphere honour.

’However, when you are invited to speak at universities in the USA and to meet a man in a position such as Jon White, then this places the Isle of Man and Beach Buddies on an entirely different platform.

’It’s a tribute to every single person on our island, including the ’unknown volunteers’ who walk the beaches and help to fill our bins, that we have been elevated to this level, on the world stage.’

He added: ’It has been a privilege as a Manxman to be invited to speak about Beach Buddies and to represent the Isle of Man.

’It’s also made me realise more than ever how very important our Biosphere honour truly is, and that we must do everything we can to retain this status, and just what a truly beautiful place we live in that we sometimes take for granted.’