The International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) 2018 is September 15th but as scuba divers we know that cleaning the coastlines and our seas needs to be an ongoing practice. We all enjoy seeing vibrant reefs and lots of life whilst diving and the biggest threat to the waters is man. Thanks to the work of many, including the Blue Planet team, awareness of the issue is higher than it’s ever been. This BBC video is a great reminder of why rubbish is such a problem for marine life.
It was back in 1972 when Ocean Conservancy started working with various agencies and communities around the world to inspire people to do their bit to save our oceans. In the beginning their focus was on protecting species like whales, seals and sea turtles but now they’re also working to protect their habitats. They’ve been coordinating the International Coastal Cleanup days for many years now and are asking for volunteers to aid in their efforts. CMAS is just one of the many international agencies supporting this activity and as the UK representative of CMAS, it’s something we’d welcome SAA clubs supporting too if possible.
If you’re able to participate by cleaning beaches, waterways and the seas then why not keep a track of your activity and log it on the Clean Swell app? It’s a fantastic way of seeing the progress made by all the volunteers. In the years of the ICC more than 12 million volunteers have been involved and more than 228 million pounds of rubbish has been collected.
If you’ve got plans on 15thSeptember, don’t panic. You can still be involved as the collection of rubbish needs to happen 365 days of the year. Download a form and let the wider community to know where you’re doing your bit. Divers and non divers, let’s all get behind this activity.
