SEA LIFE Porto accepts volunteers for Global Beach Clean

It’s called Global Beach Clean and it will bring together volunteers to help keep beaches the haven they are supposed to be, by caring for the environment and boosting the added benefits they bring to the planet. So, SEA LIFE centres from New Zealand to California or Porto are reaching out for extra help to undertake this beach clean at world level.

In Portugal, this beach cleaning action takes place on Friday, 9 June, and the SEA LIFE Porto is looking for volunteers willing to make beaches look like they are meant to be “a place in the sun”, cared for and devoid of all litter to protect marine species and the ecosystem.

The international weeklong event is organised by the SEA LIFE Trust, and features a challenge that every one of all ages can take up to on behalf of the environment. “This initiative is the strengthening of the work we have been carrying out in these past years. We know that, fortunately, there is now more awareness on this issue, but it is important to continue to raise awareness within families, the youth, as regards the preservation of the environment and the protection of the marine life that inhabits it”, stated Rui Ferreira, SEA LIFE Porto’s Director general in a news release.

In turn, Andy Bool, Director of the SEA LIFE Trust, recalls that “the largest part of plastic residues scattered all over the world washes up at sea. The litter that washes up at our shores is not only unpleasant to look, but it also harms and kills our precious wildlife”. He furthers that “hundreds of marine wild life species, including seals and sea birds, turtles or whales mistake marine garbage for food, and that leads to starving, food poisoning, and fatal stomach blockage”, caused by the circa eight million tons of plastic residues that enter the ocean every year.”

In Porto, those who wish to volunteer for the sake of beach and ocean preservation can apply until Wednesday, 7 July, at the SEA LIFE Porto website. This action has a limited number of participants. The organisation provides vests, gloves and garbage bags.

In addition, SEA LIFE ensures that “all participants will be entitled to a generous dose of happy memories as such initiative will fill our hearts while with we empty the beaches of their garbage”.

The cleaning action starts at 10.30 am, in front of the SEA LIFE Porto, and it is “a simple and effective way of turning the tide on this issue of pollution, where we can all help, starting by our city, by the shores at our beaches, by protecting our species”. “If nothing is done, seas might have more plastic than fish by 2050”, the institution warns.