On a continued mission to tackle plastic pollution in our seas, the Two Oceans Aquarium Trash Bash campaign is calling on the nature-loving community to join hands at Hout Bay Beach this weekend to help make a difference for our oceans.
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Did you know that it’s estimated that by the year 2050, there will be more plastic, by weight, in the ocean than fish? Yes, it’s a scary thought.
The dangerous thing about plastics is that they can’t be broken down, biodegraded or become part of the natural system again. Instead, it breaks up infinitely until even plankton mistake it for food. So the question is: What can we do to stop plastic from polluting our oceans?
The answer, of course, is to come together to bash the human-induced plastic crisis our ocean currently faces – one piece of trash at a time.
Since the first event in 2018, the Two Oceans Aquarium Trash Bash campaign has offered an ideal way to have fun with friends and family, inhale the ocean breeze and soak up the sunlight – all while doing something positive for the environment.
This Saturday, 18 May, 2024’s fourth beach cleanup will see ‘Trash Bashers’ gathering at Hout Bay Beach in an effort to stop the cycle of pollution. By removing plastic, litter and other debris from our coastlines, there will be little to no pollution left to enter into the water in the first place.
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Kicking things up a notch, the Two Oceans Aquarium Dive School will also be joining in to take on the ocean for an underwater clean-up.
As with every clean-up, Trash Bashers will also be contributing to essential scientific research by using the Dirty Dozen methodology to record everything as they clean up the beach, focusing on the 12 items that are most commonly found littering our coastline.
These are plastic bags, cool drink bottles, cigarette lighters, light sticks, earbuds, bottle lids, chip packets, fishing lines, plastic lollipop sticks, straws, sweet wrappers and water bottles.
At the end of the event, the data will be collated and used to contribute to the research of tracking down the different sources of marine litter – so not only are you making a difference in our ocean’s well-being, but you’re also helping to make strides in scientific research.
Be sure to wear weather-appropriate clothing and bring along a bucket for trash collection, some water (in a reusable bottle, of course), reusable gloves (like you would use for doing the dishes or gardening) and a whole lot of positive energy. Did we mention there will also be awesome prizes from Suzuki SA up for grabs?
Don’t forget to install the Marine Debris Tracker app on Apple’s App Store or Android’s Play Store and join the Beach Co-op’s list to log the litter you collect on Saturday.
For those who would love to join but are unable to make it this weekend, fear not, Two Ocean Aquarium Trash Bashes take place every third Saturday of the month at rotating locations.
- Monwabisi Beach: 15 June
- Sunset Beach: 20 July
- Hout Bay Beach: 17 August
- Monwabisi Beach: 21 September (World Cleanup Day)
- Sunset Beach: 19 October
- Hout Bay Beach: 16 November (Two Oceans Aquarium Birthday Celebration)
- Monwabisi Beach (19 December)
Details:
- Date: Saturday, 18 May 2024
- Location: Hout Bay Beach
- Time: 9am to 11pm
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Picture: Two Oceans Aquarium / Facebook
