A large amount of mainly beachgoers’ trash remains submerged at Indian Bay even after an underwater clean-up there on Wednesday.
The SVG Environment Fund (SVGEF) teamed up with free divers, Serenity Dive scuba divers, and Kirk Grant from Barrouallie (Alex Tours) for a much-needed underwater cleanup at the popular beach.
While the cleanup focused on debris left in the wake of Hurricane Beryl, much of the trash entangled in the hurricane’s aftermath was typical beachgoer’s litter — bottles, cans, eating utensils, clothing, etc.
“This kind of debris not only tarnishes the beauty of our waters but also poses a serious threat to marine life and, eventually, our health. As plastics break down into microplastics, they enter the food chain, making it a priority to keep our marine environment clean,” the SVGEF said in a press release.
The Central Water and Sewage Authority Solid Waste Management Unit (CWSA-SWMU) provided a skip for the proper disposal of the trash collected. Additionally, some recyclable materials were sorted and sent to All Islands Recycling Inc., further increasing the positive impact of this effort.
“Despite the determined efforts of our 13 skilled participants, the sheer volume of debris was overwhelming. We managed to extract a significant amount of garbage, but an even larger amount still remains,” SVGEF said.
“If today’s underwater cleanup had a name, it would be: Mission Impossible. The aftermath of Hurricane Beryl left us with an enormous challenge, and though we did our best, much more work lies ahead.”
The SVGEF said that contrary to popular belief, “the ocean is not our garbage dump. Every piece of trash we remove is a step towards preserving the health of our marine ecosystems and, by extension, ourselves”.
The SVGEF said it is committed to continuing these efforts with more underwater and beach cleanups planned for the future.
“We all have a role to play in protecting our oceans—after all, every second breath we take comes from the ocean. Let’s act together to keep our oceans clean and vibrant for generations to come,” SVGEF said.
A valiant but useless effort by a handful of dedicated groups and individuals fighting against the nasty behaviour of the overwhelming majority who care not a whit about our previous but fragile environment.
We will never better.
Not to knock good works but is this clean-up only for one day?
It’s disappointing that this article did not mention the huge mound of debris in the car park which was left by Hurricane Beryl. Any kind of clean-up at Indian Bay has to start on land, because all the garbage will eventually end up under water.