Plastic Free Cayman is still attempting to clean up our beaches after a very active hurricane season. This week we joined forces with Protect Our Future and Cayman Diving to host three separate beach clean events this weekend: Beach Bay, George Town Harbour, and Smith Cove.

Two of the events were held above and below the ocean. Most of the debris collected was plastic and microplastics! PFC hosted a Saturday clean up at Beach Bay, and two Sunday events (above and below the water) at Cayman Divers in George Town Harbour and Smith Cove. 

We continue to press the government to take direct action regarding single use plastics. 

Locations:

Beach Bay – Saturday Dec 19

Georgetown – Sunday Dec 20

Smith Cove – Sunday Dec 20

Data:

Total Volunteers: 92

Total Pounds of Trash removed: 950+ lbs

Pounds per Volunteer:  10+ lbs

Pounds removed from sea by divers and snorkelers: 300+ lbs

*A mixture of ocean debris and local litter were found at each location. It is clear that we still have a local litter problem compounded with the effects of marine trash from poor waste management of our surrounding islands as well. 

Quotes:

Vice President of the Youth Environmental Organisation- Protect Our Future- Dejea Lyons (17): 

“If we continue to pollute our lands, it will eventually end up in our water. We all just need to simply do our part of properly disposing of or recycling our trash. If we continue to litter, our biodiversity will be affected thus impacting all of us whether we realize it or not.”

Plastic Free Cayman Clean Up Coordinator Victoria Mann: “We were grateful to partner with Cayman Diving in order to offer an underwater clean up option for divers and snorkelers. We cannot believe how much debris we were able to remove from George Town Harbour.” 

IMAGES: Supplied by Plastic Free Cayman