Plastic pollution is a massive problem for our ocean, but even small actions can make a big difference. Even though we had to wait a week for a few storms to pass, we were still determined to celebrate International Coastal Clean-up Day. Every bottle, every plastic, every piece of trash you clean up can lead to a cleaner, healthier ocean. With over 170 volunteers, 1 km radius, the volunteers collected 114 bags of trash with 11 tyres, weighing just over 638 kg filling two truckloads.
The Dyer Island Conservation Trust (DICT) and Marine Dynamics in partnership with the Overstrand Municipality, Marine Dynamics Academy, African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary staff and Volunteers, Department of Forestry’s, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), joined by DICT Environmental Education Programme (DEEP) kids, local schools and community members conducted a clean-up at Gansbaai Harbour. Each area has a different signature in terms of what washes up, and all items collected are documented to assess the issues that may arise. In South Africa, PlasticsǀSA collates all information and this is fed into the global stats held by Ocean Conservancy.
International Coastal Clean Up Day is a global movement started over 35 years ago by the Ocean Conservancy with communities rallying together with the common goal of collecting and documenting the trash littering the coastline. This year’s theme is: ” “Sea The Change”.
ICC is a promise to bring cleanliness and purity to nature as a whole. This day was started as a way to raise awareness about the growing pollution on various beaches of the world. Dyer Island Conservation Trust and Marine Dynamics’ mission is to rid the oceans of plastic.
Pinkey Ngewu of Dyer Island Conservation Trust says, “Beach clean-up is a crucial task for every individual to help preserve the health of our marine ecosystems and maintain the beauty of our coastlines. Despite the challenges, through community involvement, technology advancements, and education, we can make significant strides in keeping our beaches clean.”
Thanks to everyone who participated, Western Cape Government Department of Environmental Affairs, Development Planning for their support with lunch packs and gifts for the participants, PlasticsǀSA and CapeNature for the bags and special thanks to Xolani Lawo of the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary for the logistics to remove the trash bags.
Ready for the day
Getting ready in the midst of rain
DEEP kids and local schools kids ready for the clean-up
Let’s go and tackle all the litter
Cable ties and other plastic pieces
Marine Dynamics Academy very excited to help save the oceans
Our committed community member Mrs Mariana Burger at it once again, fighting trash in our oceans
Thanks to our community members, DFFE and APSS Team
Excitement and contentment after the clean-up
Documenting the collected trash for records
The Overstrand Environmental Management Department weighing every single bag of trash
Xolani Lawo of the African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary transporting trash bags
