Ocean gives up hundreds of rare Lego treasures

In a remarkable discovery, a fisherman named Richard West has found a Lego shark in the ocean, marking the first time this particular toy has been reported since it was lost at sea. The shark, which was covered in barnacles, was found while Richard was fishing approximately 20 miles south of Penzance. Richard expressed his excitement, stating, 'I could tell straight away what it was because I had Lego sharks in the pirate ship set when I was little. ' He described the find as 'priceless' and referred to it as treasure. This discovery is part of a larger narrative involving a significant Lego spill that occurred in 1997 when a freak wave caused 62 shipping containers to fall off the Tokio Express cargo ship. Among the containers was one that held over 4. 7 million Lego pieces, many of which were themed around the sea. Since that incident, Lego parts have been discovered along the coasts of southwest England, the Channel Islands, Wales, Ireland, and even as far as the Netherlands and Norway. This year has seen an increase in the number of yellow spear guns found, which were part of the same spill. Ms. Williams, who is involved in the Lego Lost at Sea Project, noted that the rarity of Lego sharks is due to the fact that they sink to the ocean floor, making them difficult to find. She believes that there are still over 50,000 Lego sharks lying on the seabed, with some gradually making their way to shore while others drift into deeper waters. Interestingly, after Richard's find, another Lego shark was discovered by Andrea Hunt on a beach in St Ives, further highlighting the potential for these toys to wash ashore. In addition to Richard's exciting find, a 14-year-old boy named Liutauras also made headlines when he discovered a Lego black octopus on Marazion beach. Liutauras has been actively collecting Lego pieces from the ocean and has found nearly 800 items, including two black Lego dragons, which are among the 33,427 that were lost in the spill. Most of the black dragons have been found on Cornish beaches, but they have also been spotted on Brighton beach and the Guernsey coastline. Liutauras expressed his enthusiasm for finding these rare pieces and hopes to continue his search for even more unique items. The Lego Lost at Sea Project aims to raise awareness about the issue of plastic pollution in the ocean. Ms. Williams explained that the project focuses on understanding how plastic enters the ocean, what sinks and floats, and the longevity of these materials in the marine environment. The project has garnered attention for its educational efforts and was awarded Rescue Project of the Year in the Current Archaeology Awards 2023. This summer, the crew of a fishing vessel named Crystal Sea made a significant contribution to the project by retrieving a large number of Lego pieces from the seabed off the Cornish coast. Their haul included two yellow life rafts, which were part of the 28,700 that were lost during the spill. Other fishermen have also reported finding various Lego items, including a grey Lego panel that had never been documented before. Ms. Williams noted that fishermen typically find larger plastic items in their nets, while beachcombers are more likely to discover lighter pieces like cutlasses and life jackets. Despite the numerous finds, there have been no reports of Lego magic wands, dragon wings, or witches' hats from the spill being recovered yet. Richard West's discovery of the Lego shark is a significant moment in the ongoing story of the Lego Lost at Sea Project. Each find not only brings joy to those who discover these toys but also serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting our oceans from plastic pollution. The project encourages anyone who finds Lego from the spill to reach out to their team so that these pieces can be documented and added to their map. The excitement surrounding these discoveries continues to grow, and the project remains dedicated to raising awareness about the impact of plastic in our oceans.