Central Coast Annual Coastal Cleanup Day a Success

Santa Cruz, Sept. 15, 2018 — Save Our Shores (SOS) coordinated California’s largest volunteer effort for our ocean at over 80 beaches and waterways along the central coast this Saturday, September 15th from 9AM to noon.  The one day event, locally known as Annual Coastal Cleanup, is largely staffed by volunteers and sponsors invested in keeping local marine environments healthy and productive. We are proud to report 2018 numbers:

  • Over 2,300 volunteers

  • Over 5,000 pounds of trash

  • Over 1,800 pounds of recycling

  • Over 500 volunteers brought own supplies to pick up trash

  • Most unusual items:  Beer Distiller, Car Engine, Car Gear Shifter, Hubcap, Bedazzled Platform Shoes

Why Are Cleanups Important?

Marine Debris abatement from beach and waterway cleanups are important for the health of marine environments, local coastal economies, and quality of human life.

Marine Health: Trash impacts the benefits of 29 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) along California’s Central Coast. This includes their potential to help increase marine wildlife size and population, reduce overfishing and hunting, restore marine habitats, support marine diversity, and improve the overall health of coastal ecosystems that sustain life.

Community Health: Save Our Shores Annual Coastal Cleanup is an outdoor event designed to bring California Central Coast communities together to actively participate in improving their local environment and economy.  It is a community run and supported event. Without dedicated volunteers, especially Site Captains and Sanctuary Stewards, SOS would not be as effective in protecting our coastline — Thank you.

Sponsors: We would not be able to run this event without our incredible sponsors: County of Santa Cruz Department of Public Works, City of Santa Cruz, Dream Inn, Resource Legacy Fund, City of Watsonville, New Leaf Community Markets, Greenwaste, Waste Management, and StormWater and Education Alliance.

About: From policy advocacy to educational programs and cleanups to speaker series, Save Our Shores is ensuring ocean conservation throughout the community. Our various programs and projects are designed to support the foundations of a thriving Monterey Bay: clean shores, healthy habitats and living waters.

VOMB

About VOMB

Voices of Monterey Bay is a nonprofit online news source serving California's Central Coast.