News, Alerts and Events
All the latest news, events and alerts on Nurdles and plastic pollution in our seas, beaches and the wider environment.
Get ready to join The Great Global Nurdle Hunt 2026!
Get ready to join The Great Global Nurdle Hunt 2026!
Are you ready for The Great Global Nurdle Hunt 2026?
Get ready to join volunteers around the world and take part in this year'sG...
Communities making up for lost time after catastrophic nurdle spill in Tyneside
It is now over a week since nurdles starting spilling into the North Sea following a shipping incident in the Port of Tyne. From day one communities have been offering to help but they were initial...
Nurdle pollution in North East England spreads following plastic pellet spill
Nurdle (plastic pellet) pollution in North East England is spreading following a plastic pellet spill at Port of Tyne, putting wildlife and sensitive sites at risk.
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News Bulletin: Plastic Pellet Spill at Port of Tyne, South Shields
A vessel collision at the Port of Tyne has resulted in plastic pellet (nurdle) pollution washing ashore on the coast of North East England.
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Save the Date – The Great Global Nurdle Hunt returns in September 2026!
Nurdle hunters get ready, the Great Global Nurdle Hunt is back for 2026! Save the date of the 4th September – 4th October, and join volunteers around the world for the Great Global Nurdle Hunt!
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One year on - Plastic pellets continue to pollute the East coast of England long after ships crash in North Sea
One year on from this tragic incident, we take a look at the impacts of the major nurdle spill that occurred in the North Sea in March 2025. Have the lessons been learned and is enough being done to c...
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Off the rails – Fidra finds nurdle pollution from rail transport is often overlooked
Nurdle (aka plastic pellets) loss from rail networks is an important but often overlooked source of terrestrial pellet pollution. In our latest report we highlight the risks of pellet pollution from r...
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The Great Global Nurdle Hunt 2025 – Results and Report Out Now
We are excited to announce the launch of The Great Global Nurdle 2025 report!
Read MoreUK reeling from spills of nurdles & biobeads as microplastics pollution builds in our waters
2025 has seen major spills of microplastics, in the form of nurdles from the plastics industry and biobeads from the water industry. We take a look at the similarities and differenc...
The European Parliament has officially passed new legislation to prevent plastic pellet loss
The European Parliament has officially approved regulations aiming to prevent plastic pellet pollution in the EU. This marks a major milestone in the fight against nurdle pollution ...
The Great Global Nurdle Hunt 2025 has begun!
The Great Global Nurdle Hunt 2025 starts today! Are you taking part?
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Get ready to join The Great Global Nurdle Hunt 2025!
Get ready to join volunteers around the world and take part in The Great Global Nurdle Hunt 2025!
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INC5.2 – Plastic Treaty Disappointment but Ambition Remains
The latest round of negotiations for a UN Global Plastics Treaty (INC5.2) concluded without consensus between nations on a final treaty.
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Nurdle Spills: Major maritime incidents highlight once again the need for action
It is only halfway through 2025, but we have already seen two major maritime incidents that have resulted in the release of millions of plastic pellets into the environment.
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Nurdle spill unfolding in Kerala, India following cargo ship sinking
Just two months after the North Sea nurdle spill in the UK, another devastating incident is now unfolding off the western coast of India in the Kerala region. Articles are reporting millions of plasti...
Read MoreEU agrees Plastic Pellet Regulation — But loopholes remain
The EU has finally approved a legally binding regulation to prevent plastic pellet loss across the supply chain. This long-awaited decision is a major milestone in the fight against pellet plastic pol...
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News Bulletin: Plastic Pellet Spill in North Sea
A devastating maritime collision in the North Sea has triggered an environmental crisis, as thousands of nurdles (tiny plastic pellets) spread along the UK coastline.
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News Bulletin: European Council Adopts Position on Proposed Pellet Pollution Regulation
On Tuesday 17th December 2024, the European Council (EC) agreed to adopt a general position on proposed regulations which aim to prevent pellet pollution from some sources in the European Union.
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INC-5: Not the end of negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty
With the latest round of negotiations for a UN Global Plastics Treaty (INC5) over, we look at what happened and what it means for plastic pellet pollution in the treaty text.
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The Great Global Nurdle Hunt 2024 is underway!
We are very excited to announce the official launch of The Great Global Nurdle Hunt 2024! Take part in a nurdle hunt between the 1st – 30th September and join volunteers around the world calling for c...
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