17th September 2020

Underwater cleanup initiative, tomorrow

By Department of Sustainable Development

The Department of Sustainable Development, in collaboration with the Saint Lucia Dive Association, hotel establishments, and certified divers, will be hosting an underwater cleanup exercise on Friday, Sep. 18 from 9 a.m.

Sites in both the north and south of Saint Lucia have been selected, with cleanups scheduled for both the dive sites and the adjacent land spaces, from which single-use plastics and other materials are introduced to the marine environment.

Cleanups will be hosted at Baron’s Drive, Malgretoute and Hummingbird Beach Resort in Soufriere, at the front of the Sandals La Toc Resort, and at the "Bay Gardens" reef located close to the Vigie Beach area, in the vicinity of a gully from La Clery.

The activity will result in the collection and proper disposal of debris that has made its way into the marine environment, to the detriment of marine ecosystems and wildlife. The underwater cleanup exercise also aims to promote environmental stewardship and good practices through widespread sensitization, education, and on-the-ground actions, raising awareness of the negative effects of marine litter (especially single-use plastics) on marine and coastal environments.

Video footage and photos of the event will be captured, from which a short documentary will be developed.

The initiative is funded by the Massy Stores (Saint Lucia) Environmental Fund through the services of the Saint Lucia National Conservation Fund Inc.

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