Some thirty pupils of the various Seventh-day Adventist youth groups held a cleanup of Guana Bay beach focusing on plastic pollution in commemoration of World Ocean Day 2014. The World Oceans Day 2014 theme was “Together we have the power to protect the ocean”, and was focused mainly on raising awareness and promoting personal and community action in fun and positive ways, leading to a more aware, engaged, and sustainable society and a healthier ocean. A similar cleanup was also held at Simpson Bay beach focusing on keeping the beach clean for nesting sea turtles.
The thirty students were given information on the importance of all beaches on St. Maarten and Guana Bay and Simpson Bay beach in particular for the local sea turtle nesting season, which is currently underway and lasts until October. The pupils also received information why plastics, and in particular plastic bags are detrimental to the oceans and the damages that they cause to the Marine Environment.
“We were very happy to have especially young people assist us in keeping important sea turtle nesting beaches clear of plastic pollution.
Increasingly plastic is becoming a major issue, causing death in not only sea turtles but in many different sea-going animals. For this reason it is so important that we regularly clear the beaches of plastic but also involve youth, youth groups, and community and religious organizations in communicating how important it is to keep our ocean environment clean,”
read a statement from the Nature Foundation.