Over 230 clean-ups took place with over 4,000 volunteers answering Clean Coasts’ call to action to protect our ocean this June.
As Afloat reported previously, Wednesday the 8th of June marked the global celebration of World Ocean Day, an initiative that highlights the important role the ocean has for our life and the planet.
This year, Irish environmental charity Clean Coasts joined forces with National Spring Clean for the second year running to provide volunteers and communities in Ireland with free clean-up kits to host a clean-up in honour of World Ocean Day.
Statistics have shown that the number one cause of marine litter is litter dropped in towns and cities and getting involved in World Ocean Day was a great way for residents of non-coastal counties to help prevent litter entering our waterways by tackling the problem at the source.
Clean Coasts in Cobh in Cork Harbour hosted three clean-ups for World Ocean Day
Over 4,000 volunteers collected Around 22.5 tonnes of litter at over 230 clean-ups held both on land and by the coast to prevent litter pollution at the source to ensure it does not end up in the ocean.
The World Ocean Day organisation supports collaborative conservation, working with its global network of youth and organizational leaders in more than 140 countries. In 2021, the initiative changed its name from “World Oceans Day” to “World Ocean Day”. By dropping the “s”, its organisers wanted to highlight the fact that we are all connected by a large ocean. This shared ocean supports all life on the planet, by producing most of the oxygen we breathe and regulating climate. No matter where we live, we all depend on the ocean to survive.
To mark WOD, Daiane Gomes from Wicklow did a beach clean at Burrow Beach, Dublin, on Saturday 11th June
The organisation had stated that the focus of 2022 would be once again on the 30x30 campaign: to create a healthy ocean with abundant wildlife and to stabilize the climate, it is critical that 30% of our planet’s lands, waters, and ocean are protected by 2030.
A small underwater clean up at Lough Lene, Co. Westmeath, by Alpha Dive S.A.C in conjunction with Clean Coasts to celebrate World Ocean Day
Sinead McCoy, Coastal Communities Manager said: “World Ocean Day is a great opportunity for individuals, groups and communities to take action for Ocean Health and lend their voice of support to actions that call for more protection of our Ocean. Clean Coasts were incredibly excited to have over 200 activities happening across Ireland this month so far to mark and support World Ocean Day. The amazing efforts shown on and around World Ocean Day, as well as the work of Clean Coasts volunteers all year round, are incredibly inspiring and provide a great deal of hope for the future of the worlds Ocean.”
