A leading expert on world marine pollution will be the main speaker at Keep Bermuda Beautiful's (KBB) annual general meeting which takes place tomorrow.

New Zealander Gael Arnold, who has chosen as her topic, "Your rubbish goes to the beach even if you don't'', says "recent international research shows that up to 85 percent of all litter comes from land-based sources.'' She believes that Bermuda can take significant steps to reduce this kind of litter from its own shores.

Ms Arnold, administrative manager at the Department of Geography at the University of Auckland, founder and director of Island Care (NZ) Trust in New Zealand and, most recently, environmental project manager and research officer for the Uni versity of Cape Town, South Africa, is living here for six months.

The focus of her research in New Zealand and South Africa was based on pollution entering the marine environment via streets and storm drains. She believes some of her findings may well be applied to Bermuda and has volunteered to help set up a similar project that will reduce the ever-present problem of pollution around Bermuda's shores.

Although the exact focus of the Bermuda project is still being finalised, it is envisaged that KBB's role needs to be proactive, rather than reactive, in collecting firm statistics which can then be presented to Government for possible legislation to reduce the high incidence of littering which is causing serious damage to marine ecology.

"Objective study needs to be undertaken on the types of rubbish that litters Bermuda and, wherever possible, to pinpoint its source. The number of alcohol bottles found need to be recorded and if the numbers prove to be a problem, ensure that Government is made aware of the facts and how it ties in with the problems of drink-driving.'' Boats, she points out, are a potential problem and consideration should be given to providing their owners with garbage bags.

Experience elsewhere would indicate that advertising and public education alone is not sufficient to solve problems, says Ms Arnold. "I believe that campaign or project budgets should be mainly devoted to statistical information to be followed through when necessary with legislative and enforcement efforts.'' Stressing that as a visitor to Bermuda she does not profess to have all the answers to Bermuda's marine pollution problems, she nevertheless feels that the Island was mistaken to "pass over'' the opportunity of adopting a bottle bill.

"If Government were presented with some well documented research and the true situation regarding bottles and cans in your rubbish, perhaps another look could be taken at a bottle bill.'' The annual general meeting of KBB will take place tomorrow, March 6 at Saltus Junior School Hall on St. John's Road, at 5.30 p.m. All members welcome, as are non-members who are invited to sign up at the door to support the ongoing effort to Keep Bermuda Beautiful.

Gael Arnold