The Shediac Bay Watershed Association held its annual Beach Sweep on June 3rd in celebration of World Oceans Day. Every year, they invite members of the community to help pick up and dispose of marine litter that washes up on our shores. Without this group of recycling heroes cleaning it up, this litter would pollute the coastline or be washed back into the Shediac Bay, posing a threat to marine species.
Cleaning Up, Rain or Shine
Despite the rainy weather that day, the Shediac Bay Watershed Association, along with 15 volunteers, cleaned up garbage near the Big Lobster in downtown Shediac, and in several other locations in the Pointe-du-Chêne area. These helpful recycling heroes managed to clean up a whole 20 bags of litter along 2.5 kms of road and coastline. Instead of polluting our outdoor public spaces, that litter was able to be diverted to recycling and waste management facilities.
On top of all the litter they cleaned up, this crew found a sizeable pile of debris left over from Hurricane Fiona in the South Cove salt Marsh. Thanks to a team of volunteers from the Miller group, they were able to get that cleared up as well.
Preparing for the Future
With the help of Encorp’s Community Cleanup Grant and support provided by the town of Shediac and the New Brunswick Environmental Trust Fund, the Shediac Bay Watershed Association was able to get litter pick-up supplies, including gloves and bags, for all their volunteers. As this beach sweep is an annual event, they were also able to invest in a reusable sign that they’ll be able to use for the coming years.
Thank you so much to everyone who joined the beach sweep to clean up our environment despite the rain. The Shediac Bay Watershed Association would also like to specifically thank all the volunteers who went out to help make their community a better place for everyone!
