Help marine animals in coastal clean-up
PLASTIC pollution kills millions of sea and land animals each year, leaches toxins into soil, ruins beautiful landscapes and destroys natural heritage. The Two Oceans Aquarium has invited Capetonians to observe International Coastal Clean-up Day on Saturday by volunteering for a two-hour litter pick-up along Milnerton coastline.
“By joining us (on Saturday) you’ll be part of a team of 12 million volunteers across the world, who cherish our oceans. You can make a difference in protecting our oceans,” the aquarium said.
Volunteers will not only be doing their part in rejuvenating the precious coast, but can also win prizes at the event, taking place from 10am to noon at the Milnerton Lighthouse, Woodbridge Island, Milnerton.
Participants should bring along their own hats, sunscreen, reusable water bottle and reusable gloves.
Entertainment includes a puppet show for children after the clean-up.
Volunteers are advised to download the Clean Swell app on to their phones before the clean-up and become citizen scientists while collecting the rubbish.
The app will let them share their achievements and provide valuable data to the Ocean Conservancy’s research database.
“Plus, the beach is awesome to have a fun day out and show the family why living in harmony with this treasure is so important,” the aquarium said.
International Coastal Clean-up Day was started in 1986 by the American Centre for Marine Conservation in Texas, and has been held internationally for more than 20 years.
In 2011, around 500 000 volunteers in more than 100 countries collected 4 million kilograms of litter –including the main offenders, cigarette butts, bottle caps and lids, plastic bottles and bags.
According to the aquarium, plastic is a threat to all marine life, from the tiniest plankton to the largest whales, with 90% of all sea birds having consumed plastic today, compared with the 5% that consumed plastic in 1960. It said 50% of sea snakes, turtles, otters, penguins, seals, crutaceans and manatees had unwillingly swallowed plastic.
Reducing marine pollution has become one of the greatest challenges in modern times and poses a threat not only to the oceans of the world but to the myriad animals living in it, on it and near it.