He was speaking following the release of the Marine Litter Report by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, which compiles data on beach litter across Northern Ireland.

Mr Blair has said: “I’m deeply concerned by these alarming figures, which reveal that plastic waste still makes up 84% of the litter found on our beaches.

“The impact of plastic pollution on our environment has been widely documented, including how it threatens the health and well-being of countless animal species, including seabirds and other marine wildlife, who may ingest or become entangled in plastic debris. This report, recording a total of 17,575 items of litter across 12 Northern Ireland beaches in 2024, is a stark reminder of the scale of this crisis.

“I want to commend the DAERA Minister Andrew Muir for his proactive work on this issue since taking office. With the advancement of the Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme, due to be phased in from 2025 as part of a UK-wide plan, as well as his commitment to implementing a Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers from October 2027, we’ve seen a serious effort taken to tackle the root causes of plastic waste.

“I remain hopeful that, with these ambitious measures, we can finally get a grip on plastic pollution in Northern Ireland. However, tackling this issue requires a collective effort. Each of us must do our part by recycling effectively, reducing our reliance on single-use plastics, and reusing materials wherever possible.”