A problem in our ocean

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We see it every day. It surrounds us. It’s our playground. But how much to we really know about the ocean?

Throughout our history, Bermuda has been intrinsically connected to the sea.

The widest part of Bermuda is only a mile and a half. Did you know that because of its narrowness and shape, all of Bermuda is considered a marine environment?

Ocean covers 71 percent of the Earth’s surface and supports the life of nearly 50 percent of all species on Earth.

The oceans around the world, including the Atlantic Ocean where we live, are an incredibly important part of the planet.

There are huge amounts of trash floating thousands of miles out at sea.

An emerging problem for Bermuda is the amount of trash that is washing ashore on our beaches.

Most of the debris is coming from other countries, but some of it is from Bermuda people carelessly littering at the beach, or while boating or fishing.

In 2010, the ‘Bermuda Marine Debris Taskforce’ was formed to study the amount of marine debris washing ashore and develop local initiatives to solve Bermuda’s portion of the problem.

The Taskforce is a collaboration of local environmental organizations including KBB, Greenrock, Bermuda National Trust, BIOS, Bermuda Aquarium Museum & Zoo, Department of Waste Management, Department of Conservation Services, Department of Science at Bermuda College and the dive group Bermuda Ocean Explorers.

The Taskforce regularly conducts beach surveys on designated beaches, enlisting the help of students and corporate volunteers.

To help raise awareness about the problems of marine debris, particularly plastics, KBB has partnered with the Bermuda Society of Arts to put on The Trash Art Show currently on exhibit until August 17.

Using art to help tell a story is not new, but you might be amazed to see trash transformed into art at this City Hall gallery.

Every year in September, Bermuda participates in the International Coastal Cleanup. This global event involving more than 100 countries from around the world focuses on picking up marine debris during the day and counting and categorizing each piece.

From the data gathered, the global organizers at Ocean Conservancy in Washington, DC are able to give a global snapshot of the extent of the problem and show the dramatic difference one day of clean up can make. Keep Bermuda Beautiful is the local organizer of KBB’s Annual Island-wide Marine Cleanup event, which is scheduled for September 15.

Last year during the one-day event, volunteers pulled more than seven tons of debris from the shallow waters and beaches around Bermuda.

Ocean Conservancy and their ‘Trash Free Seas’ campaign remind us that, “the disheartening amount of trash afloat in the sea, littering beaches, and piling up on the sea floor affects the health of Earth’s life support system, the ocean, and all the living things in it.

“Marine debris is more than a blemish on Nature, it is a potential threat to our food supply, to tourism and economic activity, to marine wildlife and ecosystems, and to our personal health.

“It even relates to the impact of climate change. But there’s good news: Marine debris is a problem we can readily solve.”

Keep Bermuda Beautiful is a recognized local leader in community improvements and continues to focus on litter prevention, waste reduction and beautification.

KBB’s mission is to engage individuals to take greater responsibility in reducing waste and eliminating litter through education and action.

Volunteers are needed on September 15th for KBB’s Annual Island-wide Marine Cleanup, which is part of the International Coastal Cleanup.

Volunteers are also welcome to join the August 11th workshop in the BSoA Gallery at City Hall to create more trash art. Contact KBB for more details.

The KBB office is located at 10 Princess Street, Hamilton. Telephone 295-5142, or email kbb@northrock.bm.

Anne Hyde is Executive Director of Keep Bermuda Beautiful

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