Cleaning The Beach

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Volunteers throughout The Bahamas are preparing to take part in the Ocean Conservancy’s “24^th Annual International Coastal Cleanup Day (ICC)” on Saturday, September 19^th , 2009.

International Coastal Cleanup Day (ICC) is the world’s largest one-day volunteer event aimed at stemming pollution of the marine environment. Last year, nearly 400,000 volunteers from 100 countries cleared 6.8 million pounds of trash from oceans and waterways and recorded every piece of trash collected. The ICC started as a local program in Texas and gradually expanded to include every major body of water in the world. As such, it not only makes a powerful statement about global concern for the environment, it also empowers local communities to do something about pollution.

“Last year record numbers of volunteers came out to clean-up shorelines and waterways in The Bahamas on International Coastal Cleanup Day,” said Tanya Moss, Education Assistant for Dolphin Encounters on Blue Lagoon Island and National Coordinator of International Coastal Cleanup Day in the Bahamas. “Volunteers collected 14,431 debris items in New Providence alone and that is a tremendous achievement. This year, we have chosen Bonefish Pond National ParkNew Providence. It is the Bahamas National Trust’s 50^th Anniversary year and in honour of their commitment to our environment our focus will be to removing debris from one of the National parks entrusted to their care.” - more - as the inland waterway to be cleaned in

“The Bahamas National Trust has always supported and participated in International Cleanup Day in The Bahamas,” said Janeen Bullard Parks Planner and Community Officer of the Bahamas National Trust. “We are pleased that Bonefish Pond National Park has been chosen as the site for New Providence. It is an important marine nursery area for the island, providing a protective, nutrient rich habitat for juvenile stocks of fish, crawfish, and conch. This area also supports a wide variety of waterfowl and an important variety of Bahamian flora. The wetland itself provides critical protection for storm surges to communities along New Providence's southern shore.” International Coastal Cleanup Day will also take place on other islands. In Nassau:

Dolphin Encounters – Project BEACH will host International Coastal Cleanup Day, Saturday, September 19, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. – 2p.m. at Bonefish PondNational Park – off of Cowpen Road – the public is invited to volunteer and attend. Please wear closed in shoes, sunscreen and gardening gloves. Call Tanya Moss at 363-7180 ext. 303 or 359-0278 for more information or to volunteer.

Project BEACH will also be hosting month-long Beach Buddies and Project Green programmes with local students. Please call the educations department at 363-7180 extension 303 to coordinate a programme.

Cleaning the beach

In Abaco:

Friends of the Environment, the International Coastal Cleanup Coordinators for Abaco, together with the Ministry of Tourism Office in Abaco, have organized events including beach cleanups. For more information please contact Anita Knowles at Friends of the Environment at 242-367-2721, email her at anita@friendsoftheenvironment.org, or visit www.friendsoftheenvironment.org.

In Grand Bahama:

On Saturday, September 19^th under the theme Keep Grand Bahama Beautiful, volunteers will clean up 12 beaches and shorelines; from 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.Bahamas) Ltd., and local government councils are sponsoring the refreshments for the volunteers. The Ministry of Tourism Office in Grand Bahama serves as the Grand Bahama coordinator for International Coastal Cleanup. Please call Renamae Symonette at 242-352-8044 or email rsymonette@bahamas.com for more information. Ministry of Tourism, Sunny Isles Water and Juice, Caribbean Bottling Company (

Trash Collected

All Other Islands

Contact Tanya Moss at Dolphin Encounters for information packets on forming your own clean-ups for International Cleanup Day at 363-7180 ext. 303 or 359-0278 for more or email tanya.moss@dolphinencounters.com

Caribbean Bottling Company which produces Coca-Cola in the Bahamas is the major sponsor of the event providing refreshments for volunteers both in NassauGrand Bahama. Coke is the global sponsor for International Coastal Cleanup Day. and

“Caribbean Bottling Company is pleased to sponsor International Coastal Cleanup Day in both New Providence and Grand Bahama as part of Coca Cola International’s ‘Live Positively’ campaign,” said Michelle Lewis, Marketing Manager for the Caribbean Bottling Company. “The ‘Live Positively’ campaign is our commitment to making a positive difference in our communities by redesigning the way we work and live so that sustainability is part of everything we do – forever. Our company believes in the power of community and that the environment is our most precious asset and we must all work together to keep it beautiful.”

Other local sponsors include: Aquapure, Bahamas Experience, Bahamas Waste, Chelsea’s Choice, Holiday Ice, Island Wholesale, Leisure Travel and Tours, Kelly’s Home Centre, Ports International, Prime Bahamas, T and K Trash Removal and The Department of Environmental Health Services.

“The International Coastal Cleanup Day engages people to remove trash and debris from the world’s beaches and waterways, to identify the sources of debris, and to change the behaviours that cause pollution,” continued Ms. Moss. “The event isn’t just about pollution clean-up it’s about pollution prevention. The event focuses on educating and empowering people to become a part of the marine debris solution. We thank our sponsors for their support and participation and encourage the public to volunteer and participate. As a coastal community keeping our ocean and waterways clean is vital to our environment and way of life. Together we can preserve our coasts.”

To learn more about International Coastal Cleanup Day visit www.oceanconservancy.org. For information on the many outreach programs offered by Dolphin Encounters-Project B.E.A.C.H. please call Annette Dempsey at 363-7180 ext. 303 for more or visit www.dolphinencounters.com.

SIDEBAR:

Top Ten Items Collected International Coastal Clean-Up Day, 2008 at Yamacraw Beach

Photo: Trash Collected

Last year, hundreds of volunteers gathered on several islands in The Bahamas to take part in International Coastal Clean Up Day. All trash collected was sorted and filed by type. The data was sent to the Ocean Conservancy which tracks global marine debris.

The Bahamas prepares for International Coastal Cleanup Day.