Image provided by Brendan Kane (An Taisce)
Clean Coasts’ Big Beach Clean will take place all over the country this weekend, beginning today.
Clean Coasts has once again teamed up with the International Ocean Conservancy for the International Coastal Cleanup event. Last year’s event saw 10 million pounds of trash being collected by almost 800,000 volunteers in 91 of the world’s oceans.
Each year a variety of environmental, economic, health and aesthetic problems are caused by millions of tonnes of litter being dumped into seas and oceans. Clean Coasts is inviting volunteers to join the clean-up to help remove marine litter from the beautiful coastline and protect the marine life and coastal habitats.
90 clean-ups took place in Ireland last year during the Big Beach Clean weekend, and this year the number has been brought up to 130.
Volunteers are asked to fill out marine litter surveys to determine the amount and types of litter on Irish beaches, as well as heighten awareness of the issue and its magnitude. Clean Coasts National Manager Sinead McCoy spoke about the importance of the Big Beach Clean:
“Marine litter is a global concern, affecting all the oceans around the world. Every year, millions of tonnes of litter end up in our seas and oceans, posing environmental, economic, health and aesthetic challenges. Ireland boasts spectacular sandy beaches and rocky shores and we all have a responsibility in caring for it. Every single piece of litter removed during the Big Beach Clean is one less piece of litter that will pollute our beautiful beaches or harm wildlife.”
Everyone wishing to join the movement to rid the sea of litter can register to join a clean up for the Big Beach Clean weekend at this webpage.
By Kevin Carney
