Blue Lagoon Island’s Project B.E.A.C.H. brought more than 500 volunteers together at Yamacraw Beach on Saturday, Sept. 19, for the 41st annual International Coastal Cleanup, removing marine debris while raising awareness about the importance of protecting The Bahamas’ coastal environment.
Held from 8 to 10 a.m., the cleanup attracted students, youth organizations, corporate partners and community volunteers who worked along the shoreline to collect and categorize litter. The effort is part of the International Coastal Cleanup, a global initiative led by Ocean Conservancy that engages communities in removing marine debris and documenting the types and quantities of waste found along coastlines and waterways.
This year, volunteers collected more than 1,200 pounds of debris comprising nearly 5,000 items, including glass and plastic bottles, metal cans, plastic bags, food wrappers and other waste. The data collected will contribute to Ocean Conservancy’s annual research, helping researchers, policymakers and environmental organizations better understand the sources and scope of marine pollution.
“Every piece of debris removed from a beach represents a small but meaningful step toward healthier coastlines,” said Te-Shalla Clarke, education and sustainability officer at Blue Lagoon Island. “International Coastal Cleanup is an opportunity to take action while helping participants understand how everyday choices can affect our marine environment. We are grateful to everyone who gave their time this year and to the partners who continue to support these efforts.”
The Yamacraw Beach cleanup brought together a broad cross-section of the New Providence community, including the Governor General’s Youth Award (GGYA), Boys’ Brigade, St. Andrew’s International School Eco Club, Eco-Schools Bahamas, Temple Christian School Eco Club, Aquinas College, Doris Johnson Senior High School, Rotary International, Team Z from Zane Lightbourne Team, Yamacraw Urban Renewal and Girl Guides, along with corporate sponsors and community partners.
Participating organizations included Bahamas Waste, Bahamas Wholesale Agencies (BWA), Coca-Cola Circular Seas, ALIV, Fun Foods Wholesale Ltd., Marco’s Pizza, Rubis Bahamas, Sandals Foundation, Sandy Toes, Suntee, J.S. Johnson Insurance Agents & Brokers and Garnier, among others.
Shelton Burrows, chairman of the 12-member Yamacraw Urban Renewal Advisory Board, expressed gratitude on behalf of the board and local residents for the cleanup effort.
“We deeply appreciate Blue Lagoon Island and its business partners for choosing Yamacraw Beach for this cleanup effort,” he said. “In partnership with ENV Launch, we look forward to building on this initiative with ongoing maintenance at Stokes Cabana. It is especially inspiring to see our young people volunteering, engaging in positive activities, nation-building and fostering civic pride across The Bahamas.”
Among the young volunteers was Kevin Bowe, a 12th-grade student and Environmental Club member at Aquinas College, who said the cleanup reinforced the need for greater environmental responsibility.
“When I saw the amount of garbage on and along the beach, I thought we really need to do a better job when it comes to preserving our environment,” Bowe said. “We need to be more aware of how we interact with the environment around us and respect it by cleaning up after ourselves. That would be very good for all of us, especially in the future.”
For Blue Lagoon Island, the International Coastal Cleanup is part of a broader commitment to sustainability, environmental education and conservation. Through Project B.E.A.C.H. (Bahamas Education of Animals and Conservation of Habitat), the island supports initiatives designed to deepen understanding of The Bahamas’ marine ecosystems and inspire more responsible choices both on land and in the water.
“Environmental conservation is a key area of work for the Sandals Foundation and key amongst that is building education and stewardship. International Coastal Cleanup stands as the largest global voluntary movement. It builds awareness to environmental consciousness and provides a platform for people to take action,” said Snovakia Watson, public relations manager at Sandals Royal Bahamian.
Watson added: “This year, we are pleased to partner with Blue Lagoon Island Bahamas and its dedicated volunteers as we come together to protect our delicate marine ecosystem. Together, we can make a difference, one coastline at a time.”
The cleanup reinforces a simple message: Keeping beaches clean is a shared responsibility. By combining hands-on action with the collection of valuable marine debris data, the initiative addresses the immediate problem of litter while contributing to the broader global effort to protect oceans and coastal communities.
Blue Lagoon Island’s Project B.E.A.C.H. organizes cleanups and educational initiatives throughout the year to deepen appreciation for The Bahamas’ marine ecosystems. The International Coastal Cleanup is part of a global effort to remove trash from beaches and waterways, identify pollution sources and inspire behavior changes that protect the environment.
For more information on Blue Lagoon Island and its animal programs, visit www.dolphinencounters.com.
