5,538 lbs of trash removed from 34 beaches

A volunteer participates in Ocean Conservancy’s 33rd International Coastal Cleanup last Saturday on Saipan. (Contributed Photo)

On Saturday, over 700 people from 34 groups and organizations across Saipan participated in Ocean Conservancy’s 33rd International Coastal Cleanup, the world’s largest single-day volunteer effort to remove trash from local waterways, beaches, lakes and rivers.

“When you conduct a coastal cleanup, you are advancing one of the most immediate and impactful solutions to keeping plastics out of the ocean,” said Division of Coastal and Reef Management director Janice Castro, “which is why we are so grateful to all the amazing volunteers who came out. Awareness has really grown around the issue of ocean plastic and it’s great to see people taking action.”

In addition to removing 5,538 lbs of trash from Saipan’s coastlines and waterways, volunteers contributed to the world’s largest database on marine debris by logging each trash item in Ocean Conservancy’s Clean Swell app (available for free download from the App Store and Google Play). Scientists, researchers, industry leaders and policymakers rely on Ocean Conservancy’s Ocean Trash Index to inform policy and determine solutions to the growing marine debris crisis.

Since the first ICC 33 years ago, nearly 13 million volunteers have removed nearly 250 million lbs of trash from beaches and waterway worldwide.

Every year, millions of tons of trash—including an estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic waste—flow into the ocean, entangling wildlife, polluting beaches, and costing coastal municipalities hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars. Last year for the first time all 10 of the top-10 most-collected items were made of plastic, including cigarette butts (which contain plastic filters), plastic bags, plastic beverage bottles, food wrappers, plastic bottle caps and plastic straws. Plastics—which never fully biodegrade but break up into smaller and smaller pieces called microplastics are of particular concern. Scientists predict that without concerted global action, there could be one ton of plastic for every three tons of fin fish in the ocean by 2025.

“Given its scale, we will need to implement a suite of solutions to stem the tide of ocean plastic, including investing in waste collection and management in target geographies, reducing our reliance on single-use plastics, and rethinking how we produce and consume plastic products,” said Nicholas Mallos, Ocean Conservancy’s director of Trash Free Seas. “But cleaning up our beaches and waterways is an important piece of that puzzle, and we are so grateful for the hard work of the [DCRM] and all the Saipan volunteers in helping us achieve our shared vision for a cleaner, healthier ocean.”

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres added that strengthening protections of coastal and marine resources has improved over the years.

“The International Coastal Cleanup is one avenue that our community has taken part of to increase awareness and our responsibility to our environment. I’ve continued to emphasize and recognize the economic, ecological, and cultural importance of our marine resources and commend CRM because of these efforts to protect and preserve year-round. From biological monitoring, habitat restoration, research, enforcement, and education and outreach, our region is made up of precious resources and the ICC is a key step toward our sustainability efforts. I thank all our agencies and our private sector partners for their continued commitment and cultivating interest and solutions for generations to come,” Torres said.

The CNMI DCRM’s ICC partners are NMC ENRO Club, Marianas Young Professionals, San Roque Parish, DOCOMO Pacific, DFS Saipan Ltd., Herman’s Modern Bakery, GHD Engineering, National Park Service, Saipan World Resort, MCS Eco Club, CTSI Logistics, Hyatt Regency Saipan, Paradise Dental, Bank of Guam, Church of Almighty God, Saipan Southern High School, IPI, CHCC Employee Association, Saipan Community School, SSHS YEA Environmental Club, Saipan Centennial Lion’s Club, Kinpachi, Triple J Saipan, Aqua Connections, Fiesta Resort & Spa, Office of the Public Auditor, Saipan Tribune, Kanoa Resort, NMTI Environmental Science Class, POI Aviation, Bridge Capital, and the Bank of Hawaii. (PR)