The Great Fundy Coastal Cleanup is back for its fifth year, but with some changes due to COVID-19.
The event is a provincewide effort to remove marine debris from shorelines along the Bay of Fundy.
Laura Douglas of the Nature Trust of New Brunswick said because of the pandemic, they want people to gather their friends and family bubbles and create a cleanup of their own.
“It can be anywhere: a park, a shoreline, a beach, their favourite trail around their neighbourhood. We are really trying to push that messaging that everything leads back to the ocean and we want to get that garbage before it does,” Douglas said.
Our 5th Annual Great Fundy Coastal Cleanup begins today! Are you taking part to help combat marine debris?
Cleanups are already underway, reaching beaches and shorelines to help restore coastal ecosystems. Interested in participating? Visit: https://t.co/X6ncbK43ZH @ANBL_ENG pic.twitter.com/BfxVAgSppv
— Nature Trust of NB (@NatureTrustNB) August 14, 2020
Douglas said in 2019, they collected more than 2,500 metres of rope, 3,000 pieces of small plastic, styrofoam and lots of plastic bottles.
“Last year, we found a vacuum cleaner, a full carpeted stair, which really raises the question, how did it get there in the first place? It’s really quite strange,” Douglas said.
The cleanup is organized by the Nature Trust working with government and 20 other organizations, including ACAP Saint John, Cooke Aquaculture and Nature NB. The event continues through Sunday.
