Brent Geese, Microplastics, and Cornish Surf Culture: In Conversation with Rebecca Saxton

“Simply by viewing plastic as a wildlife risk rather than a commodity we need to have to go about our lives, we already set a positive tone for long-term change.” – Rebecca Saxton

For marine researcher Rebecca Saxton, an early childhood move to New Zealand sparked a lifelong curiosity about what lies beneath the waves. Today, as a marine researcher affiliated with the University of Exeter’s Cornwall Campus, Rebecca investigates the hidden reach of plastic pollution across fragile ecosystems and wildlife populations.

We sat down with Rebecca to discuss detecting microplastics in Brent Geese, Cornish surf culture, and why eliminating single-use plastic packaging in surf gear is the next big step for brands.

---

Snapshot Profile

• Name: Rebecca Saxton
• Role: Marine Researcher at The University of Exeter (Cornwall Campus)
• Specialism: Microplastic Burden in Avian & Marine Ecosystems, Environmental Science
• Inspiration: Childhood exploration in Mt. Maunganui (“The Mount”), New Zealand

---

The Interview

What inspired your passion for ocean conservation?

Rebecca: When I was six, my parents emigrated from the UK to The Bay of Plenty in New Zealand. We spent weekends around Mt. Maunganui – known locally as ‘The Mount.’

To young me, I was an explorer on an expedition to lands unknown, staring down at big, burly waves and wondering what curiosities lay beneath the surface. Those small, impressionable moments built my desire to protect our oceans and pursue a science-driven career.

---

What is your current research revealing about plastic pollution?

Rebecca: While carrying out routine lab work on Brent Geese samples from Icelandic staging grounds, I detected microplastics in fecal samples – finding up to 22 microplastic particles in a single 1g sample!

Building on these findings, my research aims to describe microplastic burden on migratory marine and terrestrial geese and understand the implications for individual and flock health. Alarmingly, researchers struggle to find ‘clean’ control groups anywhere, posing a real concern for both human and wildlife health. By contributing to this data, we can better forecast predictions and push for technologies to reduce plastic output.

---

What does the surfing industry specifically need to do better?

Rebecca: I adore Cornish surfing (even if I’m admittedly terrible at it!). Through surf society communities like FalSurf, I see students making solid efforts – reducing plastic intake and growing their own produce. Small individual efforts fuel long-term localized change.

However, walking through local surf shops, I notice that amenities like surf wax are still wrapped in single-use plastic. Brands should invest in biodegradable packaging or packaging-free alternatives. Wetsuits and surfboards also need to lean heavily into bio-resins, recycled materials, and upcycling old boards to create new ones.

---

Rebecca’s Recommended Brands & Inspiration

Inspiring Brands & Organizations

• Surf & Apparel: Finisterre, Patagonia, NSP Surfboards.
• Zero-Waste Essentials: Ethique (zero-waste beauty), Pela (sustainable phone cases), Wild (refillable natural deodorant).
• Ocean Non-Profits: Surfers Against Sewage, The Ocean Cleanup.

---

Final Thought

Rebecca: “Small efforts fuel big contributions to change. For many, ocean protection is still an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ issue. But when we change our mindset to view plastic as a severe wildlife risk rather than an everyday necessity, we pave the way for real, sustainable progress.”