EARTHCARE Eco Kids and members. “EARTHCARE Eco Kids and members with the 150 lbs of Marine Debris collected for removal at Williams Town Beach on April 30th to commemorate Coastal Awareness month.” Photo: Tyrie Moss

Gail Woon, EARTHCARE Founder, a Director of Save The Bays and a Sustainable Tourism Committee member observed, “The idea that we should keep our coasts and islands clean is very important! It is very gratifying to see the youth taking responsibility for our coasts. It has been a great morning and we have to thank all of the parents, students and community volunteers, whose hard work and coordination made this effort possible. We, here at EARTHCARE can’t thank you all enough!”

EARTHCARE Eco Kids return after a successful Beach Cleanup. Photo: Tyrie Moss

At Williams Town, EARTHCARE members performed a major clean up of the Williams Town coast. The EARTHCARE Eco Kids include:- Tylea Manchester, Patrick Bain, Rachelle Manchester, Sarah Gardiner, Shakada Hutson, Tyler Riley, Damari Clarke, Phebe Thompson, Rizpah Thompson, Lanae Gibson, Romeen Taylor Jr., Jamarr John, Clinique Robinson, Dwannae Bain, and Lamar Gardiner, EARTHCARE Eco Kids Team Leader. Schools represented include: Martin Town Primary, Freeport Primary, Sunland Baptist Academy, Freeport Bible Academy, and St. Georges High School. EARTHCARE members who assisted include Tyrie Moss, EARTHCARE Eco Kids Facilitator, Requal Belle-Smith, Michael Marshall, Analicia Carroll, Sarah Kirkby, Nicole Picot and Gail Woon.

Participants were educated on the hazards of Marine Debris. People are the source of all trash found on the beach or in the water. There are some things we can do to help stop Marine Debris.

EARTHCARE Eco Kids return from the completed Beach Cleanup. Photo: Tyrie Moss

· Use less plastic. Every item recycled or reused means one less piece of trash that may become marine debris.

· Use fewer plastic bags when you shop, or carry your own reusable shopping bags.

· Keep all pieces of fishing line, nets or other litter for proper disposal in trash containers.

· Keep storm drains free of trash - they empty into our oceans.

· Stow garbage – particularly plastic and glass trash– on your boat for proper disposal on land

· Never throw plastic or other litter out of your car or drop it on the street – it can end up in the ocean. Further, our tourist visitors routinely complain about our streets being polluted with throwaway trash. It would be a great thing if our visitors could see our streets and beaches be clean green and pristine like the days of old.

· Share your concern with others and encourage them to help keep our beaches and oceans clean.

· At the beach, park or playground, dispose of plastics and other litter in the containers provided or take your trash back home with you. Pick up any debris you see.

Gail Woon, EARTHCARE Founder explains use of the Data Cards on International Coastal Cleanup Day in September. Photo: Tyrie Moss

We invite you to participate In the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) – the world’s largest cleanup to help our oceans! Every year, nearly one million people throughout the world remove tons of trash from their favourite beaches, helping to make the beaches clean and safe for the animals that live there. The Sustainable Tourism Committee has been coordinating ICC for almost 30 years now. Please join us in September 2016!

A careless action could last for generations. Be part of the solution. Help reduce pollution!

Marine Debris, Williams Town Beach. Photo: Tyrie Moss

Juvenile Velella velella, Purple Sail found by EARTHCARE Eco Kid, Nathanael Smith. Photo: Tyrie Moss

Gail Woon, EARTHCARE Founder explains use of the Data Cards on International Coastal Cleanup Day in September. Photo: Tyrie Moss

EARTHCARE Community Volunteers, L-R Gail Woon, Founder, Analicia Carroll, and kneeling Michael Marshall. Photo: Tyrie Moss

The Men of EARTHCARE prepare to collect all the bags of marine debris. Photo: Tyrie Moss

Velella velella, Purple Sail adult. Photo: Tyrie Moss

Nathanael Smith shows the tiny blue jellyfish he found, a Velella velella, Purple Sail. Photo: Tyrie Moss

The Early Birds, EARTHCARE Eco Kids and community volunteers. Photo: Tyrie Moss