Join our 24 Hour Global Beach Clean - 18 September 2024
28/08/2024 09:07:19
Global conservation leader, SEA LIFE TRUST, is urging passionate volunteers worldwide to join their 24-Hour Global Beach Clean event on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. In its fifth year, this monumental event will unite communities across the globe in a shared mission to clear beaches, rivers, and lakes of harmful plastic waste, reducing its devastating impact on marine life.
Building on the success of 2023, SEA LIFE TRUST is setting ambitious goals for this year’s initiative.
Last year’s Global Beach Clean was a remarkable triumph, with nearly 3,000 kilograms of litter—equivalent to the weight of ten adult sea lions or two beluga whales—removed from waterways worldwide. From the shores of New Zealand to the beaches of California, and from the bustling streets of Bangkok to the iconic Brighton coast, 1,643 dedicated volunteers participated in 55 events across the globe. This year, the goal is to surpass those numbers and make an even more significant impact.
Plastic pollution remains a critical threat to our oceans, with an estimated 8 million tons of plastic waste entering the seas each year. If this alarming trend continues, experts predict that by 2050, our oceans could contain more plastic than fish. The consequences are dire, with marine animals suffering from choking, entanglement, and poisoning caused by plastic debris.
The urgency of this issue was underscored last year by the landmark UN High Seas Treaty, which for the first time established global agreements to protect our oceans. After more than a decade of negotiations, this treaty is a beacon of hope, aiming to safeguard 30% of the world’s oceans by designating them as protected areas. It also allocates additional funding for marine conservation and imposes stricter regulations on deep-sea mining, ensuring that future generations can enjoy healthy, thriving oceans.
Graham McGrath, Managing Director of SEA LIFE TRUST, says:
“Our charity is delighted that the issue of waterway pollution is being better understood and taken more seriously each year, continually rising up the political agenda for worldwide action. What we want to encourage now are the positive steps we can also take as individuals to tackle the issue and protect our natural environments and precious wildlife from harm.
“SEA LIFE TRUST continues to champion the need for plastic-free oceans – and our world-wide clean-up effort is a brilliant way for organisations, friends and family to get involved to make maximum impact. Not only will our volunteers be making a positive difference in their local area, they will also be raising critical awareness of a global problem: the sheer volume of litter which is plaguing our oceans.
“We can’t thank our volunteers enough for their support, and hope they realise they’re doing something amazing by being part of a global team to protect our world’s oceans, and the diverse life within them. Together we can restore our rivers, lakes and seas to good health – and we welcome anyone and everyone who wants to join us in this battle against the tidal wave of pollution.”
To find out where your nearest beach clean event is taking place, or to register your own event and receive a starter toolkit, contact beachclean@sealifetrust.com. Make sure to take photographs and post your best ’Global Beach Clean’ pictures on social media with the hashtag #GlobalBeachClean.
The SEA LIFE TRUST champions the need for seas to be properly protected, free from plastic pollution, and full of diverse life. The charity also funds conservation projects around the world in addition to rescue, rehabilitation & release work through its two sanctuaries; Cornish Seal Sanctuary in the UK, and the world’s first Beluga Whale Sanctuary in Iceland. If you’d like to donate to the SEA LIFE TRUST, please visit www.sealifetrust.org.
