We have all seen those dreadful beer cans and old tyres littering the seabed
and bits of plastic, fishing line and other rubbish just waiting to cause
damage to some unsuspecting marine wildlife. Unfortunately we have also seen
pictures of dolphins and seals strangled with net and fishing line and seagulls
with plastic round their necks.
As your current conservation officer (but trying not to be too 'in your
face') I am hoping to organise a beach clean up at Bridlington on the weekend
of the 21st/22nd September as part of our effort to put something back into
this wonderful coastline of ours and improve the beach for everyone. This will
include an underwater clean up too so I am hoping that divers will volunteer to
help us as well as those who prefer not to get their feet (or anything else for
that matter) wet. Families and friends are all welcome too so make it a family
day. There is currently no MCS representative on the North East Coast so I am
hoping that we can fill the gap - and maybe improve the image of the diving
crowd at the same time. The Bridlington Free Press have already been in touch
wishing to publicise the event so you could even get your mugshot in the paper.
Anyone who wishes to help will be welcome - to collect litter and help us to
categorise the collected material as part of a nationwide beachwise clean up
organised by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS). Our data will then form
part of the national information collected each year to predict whether we are
getting better -or worse, at polluting our beaches. Analysis of the data will
help to identify what and who causes the main problems so that action can be
taken to reduce the problems in the future.
We are hoping to make it a bit of a social event too - with a beach BBQ
selling ribs, burgers and sausages to those who wish to join in - the proceeds
of which will either go to club funds or to the MCS. (Views please??)
PLEASE PLEASE HELP, it will be lots of fun. Some people came and expressed
an interest last week so I'd love to hear from more of you, come and sign up or
ring me. I'm still waiting for the organisers pack but we need volunteers to:
o Take boat(s) out and collect rubbish whilst on their dives then return it to
the group on shore.
o Collect rubbish from the shore.
o Sort the rubbish out in to types and estimate numbers and weigh it (I think).
o Complete the data sheets.
o Bag up the sorted rubbish and dispose of it.
o Cook the BBQ.
o Organise the rest of the BBQ and collection of money.
o Organise posters and publicise what we're doing and answer queries from the
public.
If you want to help please ring Helen Cooper on Saturday teatime/evening.
BBQ available. Bring your own food.
Tel: 01430 421404; Mobile: 078087 39404
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