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THE CHALLENGE

Atlantic Canadians have an inseperable connection with the ocean. It is part of our heritage and our history. We depend on the ocean to secure a source of revenue, to transport our goods, to gain a sense of peace and connecction with our environment. Few places on earth can rival the splendour of our beaches and coastal landscapes.

We have long believed that the sea could absorb our sewage and garbage indefinitely. Today, we see that this is not the case. We are fortunate to live in one of the most beautiful coastal areas of North America, and it is important we take care of it.

Are you ready to take action?

Become a steward of your local aquatic environment. The "Beach Sweeps" information kit was prepared in order to meet the needs of those concerned about the extent of marine debris and who want to become actively involved by cleaning their local shores and beaches. Remember, your Beach Sweep doesn't have to occur along an ocean coast - it can also be the clean-up of a lakeshore, a riverbank, or even a community pond. Because waters from these sources flow into the ocean, it is equally important that they too, be cleaned up!

What is marine debris?

Marine debris of all types is building up in our oceans, along our coasts, and on freshwater shorelines across Canada. Plastic debris, including polystyrene, represents more than 50% of the debris collected during beach clean-ups. Plastics pose a particular problem, for the same qualities that make them useful - lightweight, solid and durable - allow them also to endure for a long time in the environment. The threat of plastics to the marine environment has been ignored for a long time, and its seriousness has been only recently recognised. Until now, the perceived abundance of marine life and the vastness of the oceans have lead many people to dismiss the increasing volume of plastic debris as a hazard to aquatic environments.

The threats to marine life from plastic debris are mostly physical, due to ingestion or entanglement. Studies have found that in addition to fish, sea turtles, seabirds and marine mammals are particularly vulnerable, because they confuse plastic debris with their usual prey species. The accumulation of debris in sediments can also interfere with the normal functions of ecosystems, and alter the make-up of life on the sea floor. Lost fishing equipment can continue to harvest fish for long periods. The threat can also be chemical; toxic chemicals leaching from ingested debris have been documented in birds and turtles. There is also increasing evidence that drifting plastic could be contributing to the introduction of exotic species in coastal ecosystems, with resulting detrimental impacts. (Derraik, José G.B. 2002. The pollution of the marine environment by plastic debris: a review. Marine Pollution Bulletin 44, 842-852.)

The negative economic impacts caused by marine debris are difficult to assess. It can damage boats used for recreation and fishing, causing losses of time and costly repairs. The tourism industry, notably eco-tourism, needs clean, healthy beaches to attract visitors. Regardless of the source, marine debris is an eyesore on our shores and can be as equally hazardous to humans as it is to marine life.

Even if the production and disposal of this debris were to stop suddently, it would continue to harm marine life for many decades. Thinking globally and acting locally is a fundamental attitude to reduce such an environmental threat. Ecological consciousness through education is likely the best way to solve this environmental problem.

INSTRUCTIONS

Conducting a Beach Sweep is fun, simple, and rewarding! The success of your beach sweep depends upon good planning and common sense. This kit will allow you to organise a safe and productive cleaning activity, for the benefit of your community.

Inspection

• At least three (3) weeks before the clean-up is to take place, conduct an inspection of the area where the debris has accumulated.
• Know the site, check it out ahead of time.
• Is access easy for everyone? Is there parking?
• Are facilities available on site to deal with the collected trash? Do you need a truck to haul it out? How many garbage bags will you need?
• Determine where the collected garbage will be stored before being transferred to a sorting centre or a regional landfill site.
• Make sure there are no major hazards.
• Mark out the search area with stakes or use landmarks before people arrive, identify fragile habitats.

Who to invite to the clean-up

• A few weeks before the clean-up, issue press releases and make radio announcements to attract volunteers and generate strong support from the community.
• Ask for help from groups, such as the Scouts, Beavers, Guides, Sparks, Brownies, 4-H clubs, service clubs, churches, conservation societies, schools, sport fishing associations, yacht clubs and camping organisations.
• Meet with the sector leaders before the clean-up, confirm the clean-up date and agree on a rain date in case of bad weather.

How people should dress

Tell the volunteers that they need to be dressed for the occasion. Weather conditions for beach clean-ups are not always ideal; volunteers should wear a hat, rainproof clothing and protective footwear. People should also bring gloves and a backpack for snacks, sunscreen, sunglasses, mosquito repellent and water.

DURING THE CLEAN-UP

• Establish a meeting point for the volunteers on the clean-up day.
• Distribute the instructions, inventory sheets, garbage bags and other supplies.
• Inform the volunteers about where to go when they are finished.
• If there are enough volunteers, divide them into teams and have each one clean a different sector of the beach.
• Assign responsibility to one person per group for recording the debris on the inventory list.
• Provide those with the inventory lists with pencils and a clipboard.
• Allow team members to switch from debris collecting to debris inventory if they want to.
• Make sure to take down the names and addresses of all the volunteers so that you can let them know of the day's results. The list of names will also help you organise other clean-up days in the future.
• Take lots of photographs!

Take security precautions. Safety measures are an important part of Beach Sweeps

Always emphasise security precautions.

• If there are children in your groups of volunteers, make sure there is adequate adult supervision.
• Provide a first-aid kit, have emergency phone numbers nearby.
• Provide cellular phone for each team.
• Plan the clean-up operations in such a way that volunteers do not work for more than two to three hours, less if weather is inclement or too hot.
• Organise a session on safety before the clean-up in order to reinforce the measures (the session could be conducted by a police officer or a municipal representative).
• Advise the volunteers how to handle certain types of debris, such as broken glass and sharp objects.
• Ensure every volunteer wears gloves.
• Avoid lifting heavy objects.
• Ensure each team leader is easily identifiable.

Be aware of fragile habitats

Local agencies and the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) can assist you in identifying sites of fragile habitats along the shore. Once these sites have been located, clearly mark them and inform all the volunteers where they are located.

• Handle the wonders of the shore with care, give animals and birds some space.
• Leave animals where you find them and replace seaweeks, rocks or mud.
• Try to step on bare space free of seaweed and animals.
• Leave your pets at home!

AFTER THE CLEAN-UP

• Assign individuals to collect all the inventory sheets and add up the amounts.
• Return the debris inventory sheets to your local co-ordinating organisation no later than two (2) weeks after the clean-up.

What to do with the debris?

• Make arrangement in advance to have the garbage picked up and transported. Ensure that the refuse is picked up the day of the clean-up.
• Ask the local municipality or the appropriate department to come pick up any heavy objects identified during your initial inspection of the site.
• Identify the hazardous waste such as paint, oil and chemical. These items should be kept separate from other garbage. Ask local authorities what should be done to dispose of it.
• If possible, ask the volunteers to sort out the recyclables and bring them to the local redemption centre.
• Check with your team leaders to see if the collection and disposal procedures were followed.

Reward your efforts

Make sure to thank all the participants. Having a picnic or a barbecue after a "Beach Sweeps" day is a good way of saying "thank you" to the volunteers; it's also a good opportunity to acknowledge the results of your efforts.

Make sure your festivities do not harm the environment by following these suggestions:

• Organize your activity in an area designated for beach picnics or choose a site that is not sensitive to human activity.
• Avoid using disposable objects such as styrofoam plates or plastic utensils.
• Use a portable barbecue.
• Seek out sponsors for your picnic or barbecue to provide door prizes for the volunteers. Have fun and acknowledge everyone's contribution.

MAKE YOURSELF KNOWN - PUBLICIZE YOUR EVENT

Once you have determined the area to be cleaned, write down on the poster included in this kit - the location, date, and time the clean-up will take place, along with the name and telephone number of the contact person. Spreading the word about your "Beach Sweeps" can be done through word of mouth, the media or posters. The "Beach Sweeps" kit includes an example poster that you can photocopy several times and use to promote your activity (don't write anything on the original so you can use it for future clean-up activities).

Posters are very effective in high visibility areas such as community centres, local grocery stores and corner stores.

Attracting the attention of the media

In the past, the enthusiasm and interest of the media have attracted volunteers and drawn the attention of the public to the problem of marine debris. Make a list of the media sources in your region, including newspapers, radio stations, community television stations and local publications like parish newsletters, school newspapers, municipal newsletters and electronic newsletters from environmental organisations.

Suggestions for press releases

Written Media

• Submit a double-spaced typed document.
• In the first paragraph, present the news items; write it in a way that grabs the attention of the reader.
• Without being too wordy, include all the information regarding the activity and write as though you were having a conversation with someone.
• Make sure the following important elements are included: date, location, time, and sponsors, contact person's name and telephone numbers.
• If your press release is more than one page long, write ".../2" in the bottom right hand corner to indicate that there is a second page.
• At the end of your press release, put "-30-", this means "the end" in journalism terms.

Suggestions for writing a radio ad

• Submit a triple-spaced typed document.
• Condense your information (three to four sentences, written as if you were speaking).
• Remember to include the date, location, time, sponsors, contact person and telephone numbers.
• For words that are difficult to pronounce, include the phonetics in capital letters above the word in parenthesis (e.g. Thériault - TAY-REE-OH).
• You can have your press release published a few weeks before the activity. This will remind volunteers to participate.
• Try to get elected representatives or other community leaders to assist you in the "Beach Sweeps" project. In addition to making these individuals aware of the extent of marine debris, their presence will attract the media. You could even ask the mayor to declare a "Beach Sweeps Day".
• A day or two before the beach clean-up, contact the media representatives in order to remind them of the activity. Tell them where you will be after the activity so that they can come speak with you. You can have a press conference on the beach.
• After the beach clean-up, it would be a good idea to gather the results as quickly as possible so that reporters can use them in their coverage. Send along one or two of your best photographs.

The information of interest to the media might include: the number of volunteers participating, the length in kilometres of the site cleaned, the type of debris collected and an estimate of the volume, the predominant kind of debris, what could be recycled and, finally, some of the more bizarre objects collected. The volunteers will also be interested in knowing this information. Share it with them and they will in turn share it with the rest of the community.

From life-giving rain, to life-saving medicines; from seafood gathered on the ocean floor, to goods transported on the ocean surfaces; from the oxygen we breathe, to the biodiversity that holds together the web of life; the oceans play a vital role in our lives and are essential to our survival. Canada's oceans are an integral part of our national identity. They grace the coast with breathtaking beauty and awesome power, and are key contributors to Canada's natural wealth, providing habitat for wildlife, recreational opportunities, a way of life for coastal people, and inspiration to writers and artists.

Canada's oceans support diverse and growing economic activities. With this growth we risk becoming victims of our own success. Marine debris reflects the gradual degradation of our fragile marine environment. Thinking globally and acting locally is a fundamental attitude to reduce such an environment threat. Ecological consciousness through education is likely the best way to solve this problem. The Beach Sweep kit has been designed to assist concerned volunteers carry out a safe and pleasant beach cleaning activity.

A Beach Sweep in your community will help to:

• Engage citizens in community involvement.
• Improve the natural environment.
• Raise public awareness on the extent and impacts of debris.
• Collect data for future studies to help reduce the debris at their sources.
• Encourage people to have more respect for the environment.
• Join other Canadians - your participation makes a difference. "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world: indeed it's the only thing that ever has!" - Margaret Meade

The Graphic Symbol

The spotted sandpiper (Actitis macularia) is the most common bird on our shores. We chose its image for the "Beach Sweeps" program to symbolise clean shorelines.

By getting involve in shore clean-ups, people can play an active role in the protection and maintenance of coastal zones, which are important habitats for fish, plants and wildlife. By participating, volunteers become aware of the negative impacts caused by the accumulation of marine debris on our coasts. This activity will also have a positive impact on the behaviour of the public and water enthusiasts.

This guide was develop to help individuals and groups organize an activity that is safe, educational and pleasant.

THE DEBRIS INVENTORY SHEET, WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Marine debris is an internation preoccupation. "Beach Sweeps" programs are taking place in coastal regions around the world. Although it is important to increase public participation is shore clean-ups, it is even more important to reduce and eventually eliminate the need for these programs. That's where we make use of the debris inventory list.

Inventory results will be used in the fight to reduce marine debris at the source. Inventories help scientists and governments determine the origin and the path travelled by marine debris. This helps in finding solutions that should eliminate the problem before it even occurs. For these reasons, we encourage the participants to keep a detailed inventory list of the debris found and to return it to the appropriate organisation at the end of the activity.

Thank you!

REVIEW LIST

One month before:

• Find key people to help plan your clean-up
• Order, beg, borrow the necessary materials
• Identify and inspect the site to be cleaned, mark sensitive areas
• Make a list of people to be contacted

Two weeks before:

• Put up your posters - publicise your event
• Contact your volunteers and invite them to participate
• Send press releases to the media

One week before:

• Hold your information meeting, explain all safety measures

One or two days before

• Contact the media to confirm the event
• Make sure that you have all the necessary materials
• Contact the proper authorities to make sure garbage bags, recyclables and heavy objects will be picked up

During the clean-up

• Bring the volunteers together at the meeting place
• Distribute the necessary materials for the day
• Make safety recommendations to the volunteers
• Divide your group into teams
• Document your efforts, take photographs, videos

After the clean-up

• Make sure the garbage is picked up or recycled
• Compile and submit the inventory results
• Compile the participation statistics
• Conduct a press conference at the clean-up site
• Have fun! Reward the volunteers for their participation and recognise that your contribution makes a difference!

Fisheries and Oceans Canada supports and encourages communities to take responsibility in protecting fish habitats. The Oceans Act recognizes the importance of ensuring the preservation of oceans and the sustainable uses of their resources.

The New Brunswick Environmental Trust Fund supports community-based watershed and coastal management groups seeking to improve their local environment.

The New Brunswick Department of Environment and Local Government's mission is to provide leadership in protecting and enhancing the environment, thereby contributing to the environmental, social and economic sustainability of New Brunswick, for present and future generations.