Velvet Strand part of Big Beach Clean event

VOLUNTEERS from all over Ireland took part in an international environmental event recently with the aim of improving the aesthetics of our beautiful coastline.  

Clean Coasts once again teamed up with the International Ocean Conservancy for the International Coastal Cleanup event. 

This year’s Big Beach Clean in Ireland was the biggest yet. A total of 194 beach cleans took place around the coast, engaging 3,652 Clean Coasts’ volunteers and removing over 32 tonnes of marine litter from the coastline.  

Irish Water staff cleaned Portmarnock and Sandymount beaches as part of event, which is the world’s largest beach clean and marine litter survey. Marine litter such as plastic bottles, fishing material and food packaging are common finds on our beaches. 

In 2017, 789,138 volunteers in more than 100 countries collected nearly 9.3 million kilograms of marine litter during last year’s International Coastal Cleanup event.

Each year, millions of tonnes of marine litter enter our seas and oceans, resulting in environmental, economic, health and aesthetic challenges. 

As part of the Big Beach Clean weekend, volunteers were encouraged to help remove marine litter from our beautiful coastline and in turn protect our coastal habitats and marine life.

The clean ups at the Velvet Strand in Portmarnock and Sandymount were organised by Irish Water staff and their colleagues in Ervia. 

They collected lots of cigarette butts, pieces of fishing net, cotton bud sticks and bits of plastic. Some unusual finds included socks, a rusty bike lock and a golf ball!

Annabel FitzGerald, Regional Communications Lead with Irish Water, said they were delighted to take part in the Big Beach Clean for a third year. 

“We have all seen the evidence of marine litter along our coastline so it is great to have an opportunity to do something positive to combat the problem and also raise awareness about the issue,” said Ms FitzGerald.