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Community : Grand Bahama Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM


Lucaya International School and EARTHCARE, Gold Rock Beach, International Coastal Cleanup 2012, a winner
By Gail Woon, EARTHCARE
Sep 20, 2012 - 1:46:30 AM

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Zone Captain, Gail Woon's International Coastal Cleanup volunteers from Lucaya International School with their bags and bags of marine debris collected today, September 15th, 2012.

Freeport, Bahamas - Early on Saturday morning, September 15th, students from Lucaya International School on Grand Bahama Island gathered to assist the Zone Captain, Gail Woon (EARTHCARE) with the Gold Rock Beach International Coastal Cleanup Day (ICC) 2012, at Lucayan National Park, east.

Vikki Purvis, CAS Coordinator for Lucaya International School, commented, “The students thoroughly enjoyed it and more importantly learned from it. We live in a world where garbage is often ignored and one small example of why that should not be the case occurred today - as we walked the beach of Gold Rock a student picked up a plastic bottle inside of which we found a three inch fish, sadly it had found its way into the bottle but had never managed to find its way out - this served as a great example of how a simple act lead to unnecessary death. This experience left a profound effect on those that witnessed it and in itself justified our actions this morning. I know that not one of our students will now ever throw a plastic bottle into the ocean, I thank you for that. A small example but a large lesson learnt.”

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Very hard working volunteers from Lucaya International School, ICC Day, September 15th, 2012, at Lucayan National Park. This piece of rope weighed at least 100 lbs!

A grand total of 400 pounds of marine debris was collected, recorded and bagged for collection for the Gold Rock Beach zone.   Most of the marine debris found was debris from fast food, beach-goers, sports/games, celebrations and litter from streets.   These items included paper and plastic bags; beverage bottles, cans, caps and lids; cups, plates, forks, knives, spoons, food wrappers/containers, straws, stirrers.   Students also found shoes.

Debris from recreational/commercial fishing and boat/vessel operations included bleach/cleaner bottles, rope, oil lube bottles, buoys/floats, fishing line, plastic sheeting/tarps, crates, and fishing nets.   Smoking related marine debris consisted mainly of cigarette filters, cigar tips and tobacco packaging wrappers.

Debris from dumping activities included building materials.  Personal hygiene/medical marine debris included toothbrushes and a syringe. 

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Three busy Lucaya International School volunteers at the Lucayan National Park on International Coastal Cleanup Day, September 15th, 2012.

Students noted that debris items of local concern included chairs, and industrial rope.  The students filled out the data cards which will be returned to The Ocean Conservancy in Washington, D.C. where the information will be compiled into a report of the state of marine debris throughout the entire globe.   Grand Bahama Island has been participating with The Ocean Conservancy through the Ministry of Tourism for over 25 years and thanks to this year’s many corporate sponsors such as Bahamas Development Bank, Bradford Marine (Bahamas), Freeport Harbour Co. Ltd., Freeport Oil Company Limited, Grand Bahama Port Authority Ltd. and RBC Royal Bank to name a few, students received T shirts and refreshments for their hard work.   Pauline Wells and her team from the Ministry of Tourism are to be commended for their excellent coordination of this year’s International Coastal Cleanup Day.   The hours of planning ahead all came together for a very successful day from West End to East End, Grand Bahama Island.

Gail Woon, Zone Captain for Gold Rock Beach was very happy with the results.  “I am so gratified to see all of the students out here this morning.   I must thank the teachers, parents and chaperones who without their help the students would not have been able to attend today and especially Mrs. Sharon Wilson, Headmistress of Lucaya International School who not only attended but participated with the students and of course, Vikki Purvis, CAS Coordinator, LIS.   We are building a new generation of environmentally aware people. I have to give kudos to Pauline Wells and her wonderful team at the Ministry of Tourism for putting together a successful International Coastal Cleanup Day this year.   Without their care and coordination these very important annual data collection days would not be possible.”

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Lucaya International School International Coastal Cleanup volunteers hard at work, September, 15th, 2012 at the Lucayan National Park, Grand Bahama.

Students participating from Lucaya International included:  1B:  Paige Munroe, Asiyah Robinson, Rekai Albury, Benita Delaney, Katie-Lynn Roberts, Garrett Bowleg, Shylock Edwards, Keana Pakosh, George McInnes, and Eric Grigorof; Yr II:  Sophie Paine and Marlena Leonard; Yr 8:  Tom Purvis, Tom Paine, Liam McCrea; Yr 9:  Matthew Termath and Cameron Mackey; Yr 7:  Annabel Purvis and Elsa Alnebeck; Yr 6:  Sierra Mackey and Libby Wilson.  Mrs. Sharon Wilson, the Headmistress and Vikki Purvis, CAS Coordinator, LIS coordinated the group and parents also assisted.


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A single mom came to help too! (ICC Day 2012, Gold Rock, Lucayan National Park)



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L-R Another view of the Lucaya International School International Coastal Cleanup Day volunteers when we were on the beach side of Gold Rock at Lucayan International Park, Grand Bahama. Front Row: Eric Grigorof, Vikki Purvis (CAS Coordinator), George McInnes, Asiyah Robinson, Garrett Bowleg, Rekai Albury, Benita Delaney, Paige Munroe, Matthew Termath, Tom Purvis, Thomas Paine, Annabel Purvis, Libby Wilson, Sierra Mackey Back Row: Liam McCrea, Lynette McInnes, Shylock Edwards, Keana Pakosh, Cathy MacLeay, Sharo Wison (Headmistress), Sophie Paine, Katie-Lynn Roberts, Cameron Mackey, Elsa Alnebeck



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