regional president jose cardoso cassandra has ambitious plans.wants to levy a stiff tax on all plastic bags and bottles that come to principe. >> we're talking to the traders, and telling them, change your ways, use different packaging, glass or large metal containers, things that don't prevent us from becoming a plastic-free island, or to at least to reduce the quantities over the long term. >> but what about the plastic washed up by the sea? the island invited spanish scientist maite asensio to inspect its beaches for microplastic granules. she says most of the microplastics get deposited at the high-tide mark. she's been doing these kind of measurements on the canary islands for a year. it's an easy and effective method. >> it's mostly organic. >> is that good? >> yes, it's a good sign. the beach seems to be very clean. but some fibers can't be seen with the naked eye. some of it looks like hair, but it could bplastic. it needs to be analyzed. >> and a low count in the sand doesn't necessarily mean a low count at sea. >> our samples on gran ca