International Coastal Cleanup Day
Ocean Conservancy's Annual Effort to Reduce Marine Debris
Nov 13, 2007
Once each year, thousands of volunteers hit the world's coastlines to remove marine debris in the Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup Day. While the event does remove solid wastes from the environment, the greater purpose of the cleanup day is to educate the public and encourage people to participant in solving the problem of marine debris in our waters.
The Beginning of a Movement - The first marine debris cleanup organized by the Ocean Conservancy occurred on the beaches of South Padre Island, Texas in 1986. Volunteers removed 124 tons of trash along 122 miles of coast in three hours. Cleanup efforts grew to include the waterfronts of 25 states and territories of the United States by 1989 when the project branched out internationally.
In a press release, Laura Capps, Senior Vice President of Ocean Conservancy states, "Our volunteers are the heart and soul of this amazing clean-up effort and we are grateful to them for their year-round dedication to help heal our oceans. The next official Ocean Conservancy cleanup may be a year away, but the responsibility to be better stewards of our environment is something we share everyday. We're all connected to the ocean and the decisions we make even miles away from the shore have a real impact on the health of our ocean and on our planet.”
A Worldwide Success - An estimated 350,000 cleanup volunteers from 68 countries removed some seven million pounds of trash in the 2006 International Coast Cleanup. Estimates for the 2007 event predicted a turnout of 500,000 volunteers working in a hundred countries. Researchers with the Ocean Conservancy analyze what's being collected along shorelines and uses the information to develop new solutions for reducing marine debris.
Ten Ways to Prevent Marine Debris from the Ocean Conservancy:
- Join in Ocean Conservancy’s annual International Coastal Cleanup held each September
- Clean up your trash. Much of the trash that reaches the ocean comes from land-based activities that is washed or blown into the water
- Retrieve your monofilament fishing line and reduce marine plastic pollution
- Contain and properly cleanup spills when boating. Never use detergent to disperse an oil slick
- Recycle used motor oil, oil filters and engine antifreeze. Responsible marinas will offer recycling facilities
- Find alternatives to household chemicals. Lemon juice, vinegar, and baking soda can be used as cleaning agents
- Beware of storm sewers and remind people not to dump chemicals down them. Many organizations now stencil this warning on grates. Most storm sewers lead directly to the ocean
- Use canvas bags for grocery shopping to reduce the use of plastic bags
- Properly recycle used lead-acid batteries
- Contact your elected representatives and let them know you care about the marine environment and reducing marine debris
Corporate Sponsorship - International Coast Cleanup enjoys the support of several major sponsors that include Dow Chemical Company, Coca-Cola Company, Philip Morris USA, NOAA, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Oracle, Bank of America, US Environmental Protection Agency, Endangered Species Chocolate, Sea World Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, Ernest F. Hollings Ocean Awareness Trust Fund and MARPAT Foundation. Sponsors provided transportation, plastic trash bags, training, technical and financial assistance.
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