Enviros tackle marine litter head on

Oceanfriendly, a local, non-profit organisation, is making as big a dent as possible when it comes to tackling the ongoing litter crisis.

Headed by nature photographer Taryn Burns, the group was recently joined by other conservancy groups plus Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (Wessa) beach stewards, where they spent time cleaning up local beaches as part of International Coastal Cleanup Day.

The group of 15 volunteers managed to collect 10 bags of marine litter, weighing a total of 20kg.

This was collected on a 1km stretch of rocky outcrop at Southbroom main beach, at low tide.

Volunteers also recently joined Oceanfriendly and Wessa at Blue Flag Marina Beach for a cleanup.

Despite some wet weather, Burns said the group was fortunately given a window of opportunity when the rain stopped, moments after a wonderfully warm cup of coffee had been consumed, kindly donated by a nearby restaurant.

In a brief window period, before it started raining again, the group was able to collect 255kg of rubbish in a 600m area in two hours.

Burns thanked San Lameer Resort Hotel & Spa for assistance in providing extra manpower, which helped the group achieve way more than it was expecting.

She also thanked the group of volunteers, young and old, who showed significant determination and grit in filling up some 27 bags.

Burns said she was quite stunned at what the clean-up produced.

She said the main area of concern, which were apparent to all volunteers when asked afterwards, was the large amount of styrofoam that had to be picked up.

More clean-ups will take place along the coastline in the coming months.

You can follow Oceanfriendly on Facebook and Instagram.

WHAT WAS PICKED UP
235 pieces of broken styrofoam
174 cigarette butts
120 whole takeaway styrofoam containers
67 plastic bottles
66 sweet packets
65 glass bottles
51 plastic grocery bags
51 lollipop sticks
33 tin cans
28 plastic straws
17 metres of fishing line
16 shoes
15 disposable masks
5 umbrellas
2 tyres
1 braai stand
1 gazebo

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