MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The so-called Sheriff of the Coast, Antonio da Silva-Swart, had to abandon his five-day quest to clean up the coastline from Mossel Bay to Plettenberg Bay halfway, due to badly blistered feet.
Despite having had to return to Mossel Bay on Sunday with his guide, local survival hiker Kosie Gericke, Da Silva-Swart remains in high spirits.
Last week, Da Silva-Swart met up with Gericke in Glentana. From there they negotiated a part of the coastline difficult to access, which called for a bit of rope work on the cliffs of the inaccessible places. At one point, Da Silva-Swart's smartphone was water damaged because he could not escape a wave.
Despite Da Silva-Swart's feet being badly blistered the pair reached Swartvlei before returning to Mossel Bay.
Clean-up to continue
"I managed to gain information which is crucial for my endeavour up the east coast," Da Silva-Swart said. He identified specific hotspots where clean-up work can be continued.
"The 3,2km from the Pavilion Restaurant to Dias Beach needs regular clean-ups, but the beach from Dias Beach to Glentana is completely clean. From the fishing spot at Glentana to the Maalgate river mouth - 2.8km - is another hot spot but mostly micro plastics and few plastic bottles here and there."
From Maalgate to Wilderness, Da Silva-Swart reports, no marine debris can be seen.
The bays and beaches of Herold's Bay and Victoria Bay are cleaned by locals, he reports.
"The 5km up the coast from Wilderness is the start of what I have now dubbed Lollipop Bay. There is an unbelievable amount of micro plastic, lollipop sticks, bottle tops, broken down plastics and rope for a distance as long as 7.5km, a horrible sight to see."
From Gericke's Point towards Sedgefield, he reports, is clean.
"I will have to return to continue up the coast to Plettenberg Bay. Kosie Gericke is an amazing co-hiker, who has embraced the coastal clean-up initiative. He wants to continue the work I am doing by arranging regular clean-ups by locals of those hotspots we have identified."
Since June 2016, Da Silva-Swart has been creating awareness of marine debris, walking along the coast from Cape Point. Since then he has established various groups th continue his coastal clean-up quest.
Da Silva-Swart's project is endorsed by CapeNature and Plastics SA.
ARTICLE: CORNELLE CARSTENS, MOSSEL BAY ADVERTISER JOURNALIST
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