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Coastal Cleanup is Coastweek's main event, offering Mainers an opportunity to protect our valuable coastline. The largest single volunteer event in the state, Coastal Cleanup involves people of all ages and backgrounds. Volunteers meet at a specified site, pick up trash, and record the type and amount of debris found. Not only does the coast get tidied up, but the data reported helps experts to pinpoint the sources of marine debris and devise solutions.
View a slideshow of Coastal Cleanup highlights from years past.
See the Ocean Conservancy's 2007 report on coastal cleanup (5.6MB PDF).
We all know how irritating it can be to visit a beach and find it covered in trash and other debris, which can also foul boat propellers and clog engines.
Marine debris threatens animals as well--thousands die each year after eating or getting entangled in six pack rings, ghost nets, and old fishing line (the seal in the photo above was found in Penobscot bay recently, lacerated around the neck by the line entangling him).
The debris that winds up on our shores comes from many sources. Cigarette butts continue to be number one on our dirty dozen list. Some of these and other pieces of debris are the result of careless beach goers, boaters, fishing vessels, and ships. But another portion of it is washed from roads, yards, and parking lots into storm drains, streams, and rivers which then flow to the sea. The Ocean Conservancy uses our data to help identify the sources of marine debris and to find solutions for this ugly and dangerous garbage. Results from 1996-2000 are available in PDF format:
Here are some suggestions to help reduce coastal debris:
You can register online until September 16.
Addison: marsh area along the main street - Sept. 24 at 12:00pm; sponsored by Daniel Merritt School, fmi: Holly Beal, 483-2229 or 497-2468
Beals Island: Back Field, Boat Cove - Sept. 20 at 9:00am; sponsored by Libby's Boat Shop, fmi: Jessica Libby, 598-8401 or 497-2027
Bristol: Pemaquid Point - Sept. 20 at 9:00am, meet at Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Park; sponsored by Pemaquid Watershed Association, fmi: Donna Minnis, 563-2196
Brooksville: Holbrook Island Sanctuary, Smith Cove, Orrs Cove, old ferry landing beach - Sept. 22 at 12:00pm; sponsored by Brooksville Elementary School, fmi: Rick Alexander, 326-8500 or 374-3766
Freeport: Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park - Sept. 27 at 4:00pm; sponsored by Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park, fmi: Andy Hutchinson, 865-4465
Georgetown: coastline - Sept. 20 at 9:00am; sponsored by Georgetown Conservation Commission, fmi: Betty Cole, 371-2575
Islesboro - Sept. 22 at 9:00am; sponsored by Islesboro Central School, fmi: Patty Crawford, 734-2251 or 589-4376
Islesboro: Warren Island State Park - ongoing; sponsored by Warren Island State Park, fmi: Charlene Hood, 1-800-332-1501
Kennebunkport: Parsons Beach - Sept. 22 at 7:45am ; sponsored by Kennebunk High School, fmi: Melissa Luetje, 773-9330
Kittery: Seapoint Beach, Crescent Beach, Rogers Park, Eagle Point, Portsmouth Naval Ship Yard - Sept. 20 at 9:00am; sponsored by Kittery Conservation Commission, fmi: Earldean Wells, 207-439-2787
Lubec: downtown, Mowry Beach, Sand Bar, West Quoddy State Park - Sept. 27; sponsored by the Association to Promote and Protect the Lubec Environment (APPLE), fmi: Ruta Jordans, 733-2997
Northport: shoreline - Sept. 23 at 12:45pm; sponsored by River School, fmi: Louisa Carl, 342-2678 or 338-0100
Pembroke: Reversing Falls, Best Beach - Sept. 27 at 9:00am; sponsored by Boy Scout Troop 136, fmi: Fred Gralenski, 726-5837
Phippsburg: Popham Beach State Park - Sept. 26 at 9:15am; sponsored by Harrison Middle School, fmi: Megan Rice, 846-2499 or 841-3220
Portland: Thompson Point - Sept. 20 at 9:00am; sponsored by Portland Trails, fmi: Charles Baldwin, 266-6462
Prospect: Fort Knox State Historic Site shoreline - Sept. 20 at 10:00am; sponsored by Fort Knox State Historic Site, fmi: Mike Wilusz, 469-7719
Rockland - Sept. 20 at 10:00am; sponsored by Mish Morgenstern Photography, fmi: Mish Morgenstern, 594-5437
Searsport: pier to Navy Street - Sept. 20 & 21, 8:00am at Mosman Park; sponsored by Sea Captains Inn, fmi: Selma Carkner, 548-0919
South Portland: Bug Light Park - Sept. 27 at 10:00am; sponsored by Friends of Casco Bay, fmi: Peter Milholland, 799-8574
South Portland: Spring Point Beach - Sept. 20 at 9:00am; sponsored by Patti Smith, fmi: Susan Chase, 799-6894 or 615-7840
Stockton Springs: Fort Point State Park - Sept. 27 at 2:00pm; sponsored by Boy Scout Troop 235, fmi: Stephen Jancarek, 567-3215 or 567-3485
Surry - Sept. 25 at 12:30pm; sponsored by Surry Elementary School, fmi: Paula Mrozicki, 667-9358 or 667-5428
Yarmouth: Cousins Island Beach - Sept. 28 at 10:00am; sponsored by Green Voices Society (Yarmouth High School), fmi: Jeannie Evans, 846-5535
York: Long Sands and Short Sands beaches, York Harbor, Cape Neddick - Sept. 20; sponsored by Blue Ocean Society, fmi: Alexandra Hayford, 361-1790