Foggy conditions failed to deter volunteers from five businesses and organisations which were supporting the event, as well as members of the public keen to help reduce the amount of plastic and rubbish on beaches and around the coast.
Between 9 am and noon, the volunteers combed the areas around Green Island, Havre des Pas, Grève de Lecq, Bel Royal and Bouley Bay. The most common finds were plastic fishing twine, cigarette butts and bottles. Much of the waste was found tangled in seaweed lying along the shore.
The issue of plastic and rubbish in the world’s oceans was brought to the public’s notice after dramatic images were shown in the final episode of the BBC’s Blue Planet II. It is estimated that around 8 million tons of plastic end up in our seas every year.
Organiser Julie Settle, EC Events which is a part of the Guiton Group of companies which the JEP also belongs, said that the campaign had been such a success it would run again next year.
‘I was delighted at the number of people who turned up at each of the five beaches. Sponsors, Jersey Gas, Close Finance, Jersey Electricity, Probation Service Community Service Scheme and the JEP all had plenty of families volunteer which just proves how much people like to be involved with campaigns like this,’ she added.
‘This island-wide campaign encouraged all communities to get to their local beach and collect rubbish. Andy Coutanche, the Jersey Sandman, did a great design in support of the coastal clean-up at Bel Royal beach and Connors collections kindly took all the rubbish to La Collette for recycling wherever possible.’
The JEP teamed up with LittleFeet Environmental, who have already collected over two tonnes of marine debris this year. The clean-up was arranged to coincide with World Oceans Day on 8 June.
A sixth team from Santander will be cleaning up Ouaisné beach on 15 June.
