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Upcoming Clean-ups:
The Great Goderich Shoreline Clean-up Fundraiser
This shoreline clean-up will bring our community together to fight back against plastic pollution on Lake Huron. This family friendly event will feature a beach BBQ courtesy of Zehrs Goderich as a thank you to the incredible volunteers. All money raised will go towards local conservation projects!
When: September 24th from 10:00 am-1:00 pm
Where: Goderich Main Beach or Lower Maitland Valley
Why Do We Need Shoreline Clean-ups?
Disposable items, like straws, grocery bags, coffee cups and water bottles, contribute to the massive amount of plastic pollution in the Great Lakes.
When wildlife encounters plastic pollution it can case entanglement, asphyxiation, and ingestion. When plastic is consumed by animals toxins leach into their tissue over time. If the animal is consumed by their prey, they also absorb the toxins caused by plastic pollution. Toxins are more prevalent the higher in the food chain. This process is called biomagnification. This can impact human health as well! The picture below helps visualize the biomagnification process.
Did you know, Scientific estimates that certain parts of the Great Lakes contain more than 500,000 pieces of plastic per square kilometre.
Microplastic - An Emerging Issue
Lake Huron has a significant amount of large plastic fragments that will eventually break down into microplastics with higher densities being found close to shore. In 2021 we found that 83% of lake water samples contained microplastic. Microfibers that are released from clothing in the wash were the most common microplastic found in both 2018 & 2021. Some microplastic is such as fibers are so small it can bypass screening at waste water treatment plants and contaminate drinking water. More research needs to be done to understand how microplastic effects human and animal health.
Ocean Wise shoreline clean-up individuals and groups across Canada to minimize plastic and garbage pollution on shorelines and in communities. Data collected from a Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup contributes to the worlds largest international coastal cleanup initiative, headed by The Ocean Conservancy. The goal of this initiative is to remove and analyze trash to better understand common garbage types and where they are sourced from. Having that data available and public will help hold corporations and consumers accountable. Additionally, GCSC hopes that engaging people with the environment in a positive way will ignite a passion to protect these natural spaces in the future. Click the logo below to visit their website for educational resources, current data and more information.
Lead a Small Cleanup: HERE
Ocean Wise Shoreline Clean-up
How To Do a Beach Clean-up
1) Visit www.shorelinecleanup.org/ca
2) Choose a clean-up site
3) Get a team together
5) Select a date
5) Do the clean-up!
6) Report your findings to the Ocean Wise Shoreline Clean-up
Resources:
Want to do your own mini-community clean-up? Here are some resources to help you get started! Record what you find on the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup Data Card and submit it to their website to help them track all the cleanups in Canada. Every little bit helps!
Past Clean-up Results
2019
Clean-ups
3
Volunteers
366
Pounds of Garbage
1,304
Beach Cleanups are Proudly Sponsored By:
