Crews from the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation and the Cape Town Beach Cleanup group are teaming up to clear litter from Sea Point shores on Friday.

The foundation says its kicking off the new year on a clean note, with the continuation of their beach cleanup drive series. Friday, 5 January 2024, will be the third installment of that series.

“The purpose of the initiative is to clean up the litter that washes up from the ocean and rivers. Beach cleanups are part of FNB’s environmental initiative to clean up the waterways, to raise awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution and to change consumer behaviour.” – Stephan Claassen, FNB Commercial

Members of the public are also encouraged to join the activities for the day, starting at 09:00 at Broken Baths Beach – next to the Sea Point Pools. The event will run until 12:00. The foundation’s Heather Wares says this a good time to create awareness on plastic pollution.

“Present packaging, decorations, celebratory balloons, and other festive debris are among the items that litter rivers, oceans and beaches. This is an opportunity to create behaviour change with an ocean-loving community.”

 

With plastic pollution being a core focus of the cleanup initiative, Wares says a talk will be hosted by the foundation’s Turtle Conservation Centre will also be held, to highlight the work it does and the impact of this type of pollution on turtles and the environment.

“We aim to focus on the impact of plastic pollution on turtles, as we see almost all our turtle patients negatively affected by plastic ingestion. This key stone species illustrates the immediate importance of human behaviour change for a healthy ocean.”  - Ann Lamont, executive chairperson at the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation

Further beach clean-up opportunities are expected in February, March and April. To be a part of the next clean up, visit the Cape Town Beach Cleanup Facebook page for information on upcoming events.