GRANDA BAHAMA ISLAND – The Island of Grand Bahama Island, once again stands in solidarity with the Ocean Conservancy’s International Costal Cleanup, Fighting for Trash Free Seas during the 28th annual International Coastal Cleanup on Saturday, September 21, 2013. One of the world’s largest volunteer efforts to help protect the ocean and wildlife, the International Costal Cleanup attracts hundreds of thousands of volunteers who dedicate their time to identifying the sources of coastal pollution.

During last year’s International Coastal Cleanup exercise, volunteers from around the world collected more than 10million pounds of trash. The impact and potential threats of trash in and around our oceans require serious attention. According to the Ocean Conservancy, it “Compromises the health of humans, wildlife and the livelihoods that depend on a healthy ocean; Threatens tourism and recreation, and the critical dollars they add to our local economies; Complicates shipping and transportation by causing navigation hazards; and generates steep bills for retrieval and removal.”

On Saturday, September 21, from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon, McLeans town, High Rock, Free Town shorelines; Gold Rock, Barbary, Fortune, Taino, Williams Town and Xanadu beaches; Lovers’ and Crystal beaches; Deadmans and West End shorelines are the cleanup locations.

This year’s participants will include all of the schools on the island, and service clubs including the Pilots and Anchor club among others. Join the movement and register today to be a part of the next wave of volunteers. Contact: Pauline wells at [email protected] or Renamae Symonette at [email protected], Ministry of Tourism.

For more information on Coastal Awareness and the International Coastal Cleanup contact the Ocean Conservancy www.oceanconservancy.org