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Coastweeks Beach Cleanup hopes for record turnout volunteers
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Published: September 12, 2015
More than 1,000 Virgin Islands residents are expected to take part in the 30th annual Ocean Conservancy International Coastal Cleanup Sept. 19-Oct. 31 to rid the territory's beaches of waste, from soda cans and plastic bags to tires and home appliances.
The Coastweeks cleanups on selected St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John beaches are coordinated by the V.I. Marine Advisory Services, a division within the University of the Virgin Islands Center for Marine and Environmental Studies program.
"Last year we had 1,134 volunteers on all three islands," said Howard Forbes Jr., coordinator of the Marine Advisory Services. "That is good, but given the population size of the territory, I would really like to see many more people come out to be a part of Coastweeks. The cleanups increase our awareness and understanding of the importance of our beaches and marine resources."
Marine Advisory Services will assist groups, clubs, organizations and schools to organize and conduct shoreline and underwater cleanups.
St. Thomas beach cleanups scheduled to date include:
- Brewers Bay, 9 a.m. Sept. 19.
- Hassel Island, 8:30 a.m. Sept. 19 (transportation provided from Frenchtown).
- Red Hook Salt Pond, 8 a.m. Sept. 26.
- Coki Point, 9 a.m. Oct. 3.
On St. Croix, numerous groups have committed to doing cleanups.
Dates and times are being coordinated, and interested parties can contact St. Croix Coastweeks coordinator Marcia Taylor at 693-4046 or mtaylor@uvi.edu.
On St. John, beach cleanups are planned by community members who have adopted various beaches across the island, according to St. John Coastweeks coordinator Karen Jarvis, of the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Parks.
The general public is invited to join in a cleanup of Trunk Bay beach. The date is still to be determined and interested parties can contact Jarvis for information at 779-4940 or kjarvis@friendsvinp.org.
Forbes said one goal this year is to go beyond the shorelines and into the bushes surrounding the beaches, where there are larger items discarded by the public.
"We have found anything from vials of blood, dishwashers, tires, washing machines and toilets," he said.
The Marine Advisory Services is partnering with the V.I. Waste Management Authority, which will help transport and dispose of debris that is collected.
For more information about scheduling a beach cleanup or other Marine Advisory Services-related activities, contact Forbes at 693-1672 or howard.forbes@live.uvi.edu.
Posted : September 16, 2015 7:22 am
Coastweeks Beach Cleanup hopes for record turnout volunteers
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Published: September 12, 2015More than 1,000 Virgin Islands residents are expected to take part in the 30th annual Ocean Conservancy International Coastal Cleanup Sept. 19-Oct. 31 to rid the territory's beaches of waste, from soda cans and plastic bags to tires and home appliances.
The Coastweeks cleanups on selected St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John beaches are coordinated by the V.I. Marine Advisory Services, a division within the University of the Virgin Islands Center for Marine and Environmental Studies program.
"Last year we had 1,134 volunteers on all three islands," said Howard Forbes Jr., coordinator of the Marine Advisory Services. "That is good, but given the population size of the territory, I would really like to see many more people come out to be a part of Coastweeks. The cleanups increase our awareness and understanding of the importance of our beaches and marine resources."
Marine Advisory Services will assist groups, clubs, organizations and schools to organize and conduct shoreline and underwater cleanups.
St. Thomas beach cleanups scheduled to date include:
- Brewers Bay, 9 a.m. Sept. 19.
- Hassel Island, 8:30 a.m. Sept. 19 (transportation provided from Frenchtown).
- Red Hook Salt Pond, 8 a.m. Sept. 26.
- Coki Point, 9 a.m. Oct. 3.
On St. Croix, numerous groups have committed to doing cleanups.
Dates and times are being coordinated, and interested parties can contact St. Croix Coastweeks coordinator Marcia Taylor at 693-4046 or mtaylor@uvi.edu.
On St. John, beach cleanups are planned by community members who have adopted various beaches across the island, according to St. John Coastweeks coordinator Karen Jarvis, of the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Parks.
The general public is invited to join in a cleanup of Trunk Bay beach. The date is still to be determined and interested parties can contact Jarvis for information at 779-4940 or kjarvis@friendsvinp.org.
Forbes said one goal this year is to go beyond the shorelines and into the bushes surrounding the beaches, where there are larger items discarded by the public.
"We have found anything from vials of blood, dishwashers, tires, washing machines and toilets," he said.
The Marine Advisory Services is partnering with the V.I. Waste Management Authority, which will help transport and dispose of debris that is collected.
For more information about scheduling a beach cleanup or other Marine Advisory Services-related activities, contact Forbes at 693-1672 or howard.forbes@live.uvi.edu.
I can attest to Forbes' statement. I hauled a toilet out of the bush myself on a beach access road St Croix, just last Sunday. There's plenty more where that came from. Any clean-up help is appreciated.
Posted : September 16, 2015 11:39 am
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Posted : September 19, 2015 12:13 pm
