Page updated on:
     25 May 2005

News > Beach cleaning 

In 1993, Kenya became the first International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78) signatory country to join in the International Coastal Cleanup.  The annual beach cleaning is organised in conjunction with The Ocean Conservancy based in the USA.  Baobab Trust has been co-ordinating this activity since 1993 with Dr. Rene D. Haller as the International Co-ordinator. Initiative and support has grown over the years with more people and countries participating.  It remains the largest single-day volunteer event for the marine environment.

The ICC’s mission:     

• remove debris from the shorelines, waterways and beaches;

• to collect valuable information on the amount and type of debris;

• to create awareness and to educate people on the issue of marine debris;  

• use the information collected to effect positive change from the individual to the international to reduce marine debris and  enhance marine conservation.

Dangers of debris: In addition to being an eyesore, debris can have harmful effects. Items such as broken glass and syringes pose health risk to people both in and out of water. Debris can also cause habitat destruction, covering and smothering coral reefs and sea grasses. Also animal entanglement is a major concern. Others confuse plastic bag with jelly fish causing indigestion leading to strangulation, starvation and death.

Support: Being an entirely volunteer effort, support comes from various enthusiastic individuals and organisations in different forms, to make this event a success.  Many contribute their time to attend a number of meetings held before the actual day, assist in co-ordinating different beach points and logistics, provision of transport (trash collection), trash bags, soft drinks & snacks, publicity, cash and other in-kind donations.  We must say “thank-you” to all those who have contributed to the cleanups.

We, therefore, appeal to our fellow citizens to support this exercise and help us to have clean beaches and a healthier environment.  A vision to share, for cleaner waters and a goal of reducing and eventually eliminating,  marine debris.

Participation: Would you like to join in this effort with the rest of the world and create a cleaner and healthier environment to live in?  

Please contact: Baobab Trust (sonal.singh@bamburi.lafarge.com) to find out how you may participate on a shoreline or underwater cleanup or visit www.coastalcleanup.com

Quick facts about the ICC……

• held annually on the 3rd Saturday in September
• 123 countries over the world will participate this year
• unites citizens around the world in attempt to reduce pollution in their communities
• about 4.7 million volunteers will clean 183,580.3 km of shoreline collecting 92.6 million pieces of various debris
• both shoreline and underwater cleanup is carried out
• data is recorded on all debris collected & analysed
• marine debris are an eye sore
• thousands of marine animals die each year from getting entangled or consuming items such as plastic bags
• held and organised by Baobab Trust since 1993
• held from the south coast to the north coast upto Malindi and Lamu