HIGHLANDS — On Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., Clean Ocean Action, a group whose goal is to improve the degraded water quality of the marine waters off the New Jersey and New York coasts, will be hosting its 24th annual Fall Beach Sweeps on beaches throughout the state including several in Cape May County.
In 1985, COA launched the region’s first Beach Sweeps program to rid beaches of unsightly and harmful debris. COA’s Beach Sweeps is one of the longest running cleanups of its kind in the world. The program has grown from 75 people at one site in 1985, to 5,163 volunteers at 115 sites in 2008. Volunteers gather from Raritan to Delaware Bays and along the ocean to clean beaches and waterways, as well as underwater sites. They join as groups (community, school, business, and organization), families, or individuals. Participants collect and record valuable data about debris, which is presented in annual reports and used to advance federal, state, and local programs to reduce litter.
Fish, whales, birds, and other animals often mistake litter for food. As a result, animals get entangled in or ingest items, such as plastic bags, cigarette filters, and fishing line, with deadly results. Cigarette filters mimic fish and have been found in the stomachs of birds and larger fish, blocking and affecting their digestion. Also, the filters are made of plastic fibers and trap carcinogenic (cancer-causing) chemicals that are introduced into animals’ bloodstreams.
Moreover, plastic litter takes a few years to several hundred years to break down, thereby threatening wildlife for decades. Litter in waterways can also foul boat motors and propellers, resulting in costly repairs. Finally, littered beaches can ruin a day at the beach. Garbage slicks and wash-ups close beaches to swimming and are detrimental to tourism and the coastal economy.
Volunteers are needed at the following Cape May County locations:
• Avalon – 30th St.
• Cape May – 2nd Ave Beach- Site Sponsored by Lower Cape May Regional Education Association
• Del Haven – Sunray Beach at Eldredge Avenue
• North Wildwood – 15th Ave at Beach Patrol Building- CANCELLED! Due to Beach Re-nourishment project
• Ocean City – 9th St Music Pier
• Sea Isle City – JFK Blvd ***October 31, 2009***
• Strathmere – Webster Ave
• Stone Harbor – 95th St.
• Wildwood – Poplar Ave.
Who should participate in Beach Sweeps?
Volunteers of all ages. Groups of 10 or more are asked to pre-register by completing the online form below, or by calling COA’s Sandy Hook office at (732) 872-0111.
How to get involved in Beach Sweeps:
To participate in the Beach Sweeps first review the list of Beach Sweeps sites. Groups of 10 or more are asked to pre-register by completing the online form below, or by calling COA’s Sandy Hook office at 732-872-0111. When arriving at your chosen site, please look for and speak to the site’s “Beach Captain,” who will direct you during the cleanup. Interested volunteers can click here to learn more about the participant job description.
If you have any questions about the Beach Sweeps please contact:
Tavia Danch, Pollution Prevention Coordinator, (732) 872-0111 or at education@cleanoceanaction.org
Tips for a Successful Sweep
• Attend rain or shine
• Bring and wear gloves
• Dress for the weather
• Wear sunscreen
• Wear closed, hard-soled shoes
• Stay away from large drums
• Be careful of sharp objects
• Stay out of dunes
• Respect wildlife
• Do not lift anything too heavy
Click here to register for a Beach Sweep near you.
