Jamaica celebrates International Coastal Clean-up Day on September 17… NEPA partners with UDC, schools and corporate entities to clean-up coasts

September 15, 2011

On September 17th Jamaica joins the rest of the world in celebrating International Coastal Clean-up Day (ICCD). ICCD which is, traditionally, celebrated on the third Saturday in September annually is coordinated by the United States based Ocean Conservancy and is the largest volunteer effort to help protect the world’s oceans.

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) and the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) will partner with various corporate entities and schools to clean the Hellshire Bay Beach, St. Catherine, and the turtle nesting beach in the Palisadoes-Port Royal Protected Area between Plumb Point Lighthouse and Lady Lightbourne Corner. Clean-up activities will begin at 8:00 a.m. at both sites and end at 1p.m.

At the end of the clean-up activities at Hellshire Bay volunteers will be treated to a live demonstration on safe handling and preparing of Lionfish for meals – including tasting. This will be carried out team members of the Invasive Alien Species Project.

NEPA is inviting members of the public and other interested stakeholders to support the many local clean-up initiatives. Persons who wish to volunteer can contact Ava Tomlinson or Damany Calder at the following number: 754-7540 ext. 2433 or 2215 respectively. Information on other clean-up sites is also available at the NEPA website at www.nepa.gov.jm and from the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) at 960-3693.