International Coastal Cleanup Day
September 16, 2017
International Coastal Cleanup Day is observed every year on September 16 around the world. The day is organized by Ocean Conservancy in partnership with volunteer organizations and individuals around the globe.
Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup engages people to remove trash from the world’s beaches and waterways, identify the sources of debris and change the behaviors that cause marine debris in the first place.
Our ocean faces many threats like the onslaught of ocean trash, overfishing and ocean acidification. It is every single person’s responsibility to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Need to create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean, abundant wildlife and thriving coastal communities.
Top 20 Participating Countries in Coastal Cleanup
1. UNITED STATES
2. HONG KONG
3. CANADA
4. ECUADOR
5. MEXICO
6. PUERTO RICO
7. TAIWAN
8. PERU
9. INDIA
10. CHILE
11. JAMAICA
12. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
13. AUSTRALIA
14. VENEZUELA
15. JAPAN
16. SRI LANKA
17. UNITED KINGDOM
18. GUAM
19. CHINA
20. THAILAND
TAKE ACTION: SKIP THE STRAW
The average person uses 1.6 straws per day. If 25,000 people pledge to skip the straw we could save 5,000,000 straws—and prevent a lot of them from entering the ocean and possibly harming wildlife.
Take a pledge now and when offered a straw, simply say ‘no thanks’. It is a small step that goes a long way for ocean health.
BOAT CLEANUPS
People: 5,707
Trash Collected: 208,532 Pounds (94,589 KG)
Area Covered: 726 Miles (1,168 KM )
Total Items Collected: 127,852
UNDERWATER CLEANUPS
Area Covered: 236 miles of waterways (380 KM)
Divers: 2825
Trash Collected: 41,141 pounds (18,661 KG)
Total Items Collected: 46,855
WEIDRD FINDS AROUND THE WORLD
Canada: Hamster Puppet
USA: Wizard Hat
Jamaica: Blender
Belize: Christmas Tree & Lights
Trinidad & Tobago: Stereo Set
Sweden: Mop
Hong Kong: Toy House
Northern Mariana Islands: Bucket of Nails
Guam: Slide
India: Garlands
South Africa: Tennis Racket
56 Toilets
8 Microwaves
5 Selfie Sticks
5 Brooms
4 Drones
2 Typewriters
1 Piano
DATA SPOTLIGHT
Enough miles were covered to walk around the moon twice
Enough balloons were collected to lift a walrus
The beverage cans collected weigh as much as a safari jeep
Enough fishing line was collected for 9 people to drop a hook to the bottom of the Mariana Trench
The Total Global Weight Collected is more than the combined weight of…..
700 African Elephants
400 Giraffes
600 White Rhinos
500 Hippos
300 Nile Crocodiles
200 Zebras
100 Lions
TINY TRASH, BIG IMPACTS
(tiny Trash are items measuring less than 2.5 cm)
1,212,602 Plastic Pieces
1,066,644 Foam Pieces
496,640 Glass Pieces
TOP 10 ITEMS COLLECTED
1. CIGARETTE BUTTS
1,863,838
2. PLASTIC BEVERAGE BOTTLES
1,578,834
3. PLASTIC BOTTLE CAPS
822,227
4. FOOD WRAPPERS
762,353
5. PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS
520,900
6. PLASTIC LIDS
419,380
7. STRAWS, STIRRERS
409,087
8. GLASS BEVERAGE
BOTTLES
390,468
9. OTHER PLASTIC BAGS
368,655
10. FOAM TAKE-AWAY CONTAINERS
365,584
Together, we can achieve a positive future for our ocean.
Source: www.oceanconservancy.org
Image Credit: www. www.ballitonews.co.za
