The Healey-Driscoll Administration has declared Saturday as the kickoff for the annual COASTSWEEP beach cleanup. This event, slated to span until early November, invites volunteers to join in preserving Massachusetts' coastal and marine environments. According to Massachusetts Government, since its inception in 1987, COASTSWEEP has seen over 111,000 volunteers who have collectively removed upwards of 1.4 million pounds of trash.
"It is up to all of us to care for our coastlines," stated Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper, as reported by the Massachusetts Government. She noted the beaches' importance not only for human visitors but also for the critical habitats they provide to shorebirds and marine life. Last year, Tepper pointed out, more than 3,000 volunteers cleared close to 20,000 pounds of trash from over 225 miles of shorelines. She championed this year's effort to exceed those numbers. The Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Director Alison Brizius echoed the sentiment, highlighting the commitment of volunteers who play a pivotal role in maintaining the cleanliness and health of the state's coasts.
COASTSWEEP forms part of the International Coastal Cleanup. Organized by Ocean Conservancy, the initiative motivates hundreds of thousands to tidy up beaches in 118 countries worldwide. Beyond just cleaning up, participants also catalog the debris they collect, contributing to an international database that aids researchers and policymakers in understanding and preventing marine debris.
Last year's COASTSWEEP efforts yielded a collection of 71,674 pieces of marine debris from 195 sites, with cigarette butts and plastic pieces being the most common finds. Data revealed that volunteers retrieved a total of 18,981 pounds of trash along 228 miles of shoreline, according to the Massachusetts Government report. Volunteers who are interested in organizing or joining a cleanup can obtain information on the COASTSWEEP website or by contacting the provided email.
The cleanup efforts are backed by entities such as the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Office of Coastal Zone Management, Department of Conservation and Recreation, and Ocean Conservancy. Tronex, a personal protective equipment company, provides gloves for the initiative. Through efforts like COASTSWEEP, the CZM aims to balance human activities with the conservation of coastal and marine resources and to assist communities in grappling with climate change challenges such as sea level rise and storms.
