MOSSEL BAY NEWS - International Coastal Clean-up Day saw the greater Mossel Bay community come out in their numbers on the morning of 19 September to clean up various beaches along the town's coast.
Not only were rubbish and litter removed from the beaches during these audited clean-ups, but they will also provide an important snapshot of the rubbish found along the coast: how much and where.
The Great Brak River Conservancy hosted its clean-up at Suiderkruis Beach, where 51 people removed just over 3 400 pieces of rubbish from the beach and surrounding dune area.
The Midbrak Conservancy's members tackled Reebok Beach, gathering 28 bags of litter.
The Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve and conservation enthusiast Rika Burger joined hands to clear Little Brak River Beach and tackle nurdles, small plastic pellets the size of a lentil or smaller.
Children of Isalathiso Primary and The Surfer Kids NPO joined forces to clear Santos Beach before an educational trip to the aquarium and museum. Then it was back to the beach to play some games that taught the kids more about conservation.
Chuma Magusha (black jacket) of The Surfer Kids NPO and Nizibone Lubisi (reflector jacket) of the Mossel Bay Municipality's environmental department talk to some of the children ahead of the Santos Beach clean-up. Photo: Supplied
At The Point, volunteers of the Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team (Smart) filled up four bags of litter and recorded everything they picked up on the data lists.
"Besides glass, cigarette butts and plastic, we also collected lots of fishing line, four condoms, part of a cycling helmet, a handle of a golf putter and a piece of asbestos," said Smart in a Facebook post.
Dana Bay Conservancy also did their bit and stationed themselves on Second Beach, collecting 745 pieces of rubbish.
Rika Burger with some of the litter collected on Little Brak Beach. Photo: Supplied
"Dana Bay Conservancy, like many other conservancies, always makes an effort to clean our beaches. Volunteers are crucial, as the responsibility lies with all of us to make a difference," said the conservancy's chairperson, Erika van der Westhuizen.
"The biggest concern remains micro-plastics and nurdles. We like to encourage residents to take a plastic bag along to collect whatever they can every time they visit the beach."
Rika Burger with some of the litter collected on Little Brak Beach. Photo: Supplied
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