Hundreds support 30th International Coastal Cleanup

Hundreds of volunteers joined the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality for the 30th International Coastal Cleanup this year.

According to Jihan S. Buniag, BECQ-Division of Coastal Resource Management education and outreach coordinator, about 500 volunteers showed up to clean their assigned beaches and cleanup sites.

“We hope that for next year we get more volunteers and involve more of the other schools,” Buniag said.

A final count of how much trash was collected and how many supported the event will be determined this week.

“A lot of why data collection is important is that it tells us what type of marine debris is out there at a specific location and also where is it coming from. Is it land-based or is it water-based?” she said.

Buniag said most of the marine debris include items such as packing material, cigarette butts, plastic bottle caps, beverage bottles, beverage cans, personal hygiene items, fishing lines, ropes, as well as styrofoam plates, cups, and paper towels.

The data collected during the cleanup will be submitted to the Ocean Conservancy where they will incorporate it into a marine debris index along with the data collected from other participating countries, according to Buniag.

Among the few government agencies that joined this year’s cleanup was the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, which cleaned the area from 13 Fishermen’s Monument to the Garapan Fishing Base.

According to DCCA Secretary Laura Ogumoro, about 20 of their employees participated in the cleanup, which they have been doing for about five years now.

“We want to participate in the cleanup and help maintain the beauty of our islands,” Ogumoro said. “I think everybody should be invested in keeping our islands clean not only for the environment, keeping our environment healthy, but also economically it’s advantageous.”

The Department of Lands and Natural Resources covered the Bird Island beach but only a handful participated, according to fisheries biologist Mike Tenorio.

The Saipan Marianas Lions Club, which has been cleaning Paupau Beach for five years now, was joined this year by their youth counterparts from the Saipan Marianas Alpha Leos Club.

Best Sunshine International Ltd., which had more than 80 volunteers from various partners and organizations as well as their group of volunteers, cleaned up Oleai Beach to the 13 Fishermen’s Monument in Garapan.

Other groups that participated were Saipan Southern High School YEA and My Wave Club who were assigned to Laly 4; the U.S. Coast Guard and Auxiliary, which cleaned the beach near Aquarius to Sugar Dock; CTSI Logistics, Kanoa Resort, and Century Tours that cleaned Susupe Beach Park; 4H Club, which was assigned to the Civic Center; Saipan Paddling Club, assigned from the Naked Fish to Oleai Beach Bar; Century Insurance, which cleaned the area from TSL Plaza to Garapan Fishing Base; Fiesta Resort, which cleaned Makaka Beach; Micronesia Islands Nature Alliance, assigned to Tanapag Beach; Kagman High School, assigned to Marine Beach; Northern Marianas College, which cleaned Laolao Bay; POI Aviation, which cleaned Ladder Beach; and NMDOA, which cleaned Managaha Isand.