It’s no coincidence the federal government announced its ban on certain single-use plastics following World Oceans Day 2019.
In fact, the initiative outlined by the Canadian government is one that mirrors efforts by local community groups throughout Lunenburg County.
Alexa Goodman, project coordinator for Coastal Action’s coastal and marine team, said staff and volunteers organized several events on June 8 to raise awareness about ocean health.
“We’re at this tipping point where we’re aware we have a problem with single-use plastic consumption and it’s evidenced from clean ups,” she said.
“Here in Lunenburg, we really do have the potential to go plastic-free and really be the first community to champion this in a big way.”
And as a start to this process, Coastal Action staff and a dozen volunteers picked up garbage along the Bluenose Golf Club and other parts areas to identify items being tossed into the harbour.
Following the clean-up, staff audited the discarded items which ranged from food wrappers to cigarette butts.
“The weirdest thing we found was a turkey baster, which a lot of us were laughing about because it was in fairly new condition,” she said
In total, the morning’s efforts pulled hundreds of items from around the harbour.
South Shore-St. Margarets MP Bernadette Jordan, who was present for the clean-up, posted on social media that she was dismayed to see so much garbage but glad to see volunteers taking an interest in ocean health.
“This shouldn’t be a partisan issue,” she wrote on Facebook.
“We have to make sure we take care of the ocean and the environment so the next generation can enjoy it like we all have!”
Afterwards, Coastal Action also organized several interactive activities in front of the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic; these included waste sorting games, free harbour tours through Lunenburg Whale Watching Tours and more.
Given the theme of this year’s World Oceans Day was gender and the ocean, Goodman stressed celebrating local women fighting for change.
“I think it really is important to note the role gender plays in protecting our oceans. There’s a lot of great women who are doing fantastic work and leading a series of changes,” she said.
Canada’s single-use plastic ban is expected to be in place by early 2021.
@joshrjhealey / [email protected]
