By Captain Dave

As many of us embrace World Cup fever at home and abroad, artist Mandy Barker has launched, with impeccable timing, a new collection which brings together what is quite possibly the World's most popular sport, with marine education and awareness in a most visually stunning way. Titled "Penalty," this series of photographs shows the scale of debris while reach our oceans worldwide, by focusing on soccer/footballs found by the artist and 89 members of the public over a four month  period.

Through an online appeal as well as beachcombing journeys by the artist, "Penalty" displays an incredible 769 discarded footballs found floating aimlessly in the oceans currents, along with more than 220 other cast off balls, retrieved from 144 different beaches in 41 different countries and islands around the World in just four short months. Photographed in the condition which they were found, unwashed, unaltered, and oftentimes containing creatures ranging from ants to crabs, and even bird life, "Penalty" creates a stunningly vivid picture of the clutter and waste which makes its way to our oceans on a constant basis.

While the photos of "Penalty" are presented in quite a pleasing arrangement, they also serve as a reminder that no matter where on Earth we call home, we all need to do our part to help eliminate any and all forms of manmade waste from polluting our beautiful seas. So the next time you are out taking a stroll on the beach and come across a piece of trash, do your part and place it in the proper receptacle, to help ensure our oceans and coastlines are waste-free for generations to come.