Fishing gear, pieces of rope, buoys, traps, netting, wood beams, tires and large chunks of Styrofoam were just some of the objects collected during a marine debris cleanup from sites around Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound in September.
Ellika Cairns, project director for the Átl’ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound Marine Stewardship Initiative (MSI), said the organization partnered with the Ocean Legacy Foundation (OLF) for the large-scale, multi-day marine debris cleanup, which took part between Sept. 9 and 20. MSI was created to help protect, restore and be stewards of the health, biodiversity, and human values of Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound’s aquatic environment.
“Styrofoam is common in docks and so we see really big Styrofoam blocks, which then disintegrate and turn into these tiny, tiny pieces that are almost impossible to clean up,” said Cairns. “And the same goes for other plastics, those will break down too. It's quite detrimental, both to marine life as well as to people. It can also be a navigation hazard, impacts water quality and safety for recreation or commercial objectives as well.”
In total, the clean-up effort removed nearly 17 tons of debris from sites around Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound, including Gibsons, Pasley Island, Gambier Island, south of Port Mellon, and Anvil Island.
Marine debris is a pressing issue in the region and the OLF notes winter storms can wreak havoc on coastal infrastructure, sending detritus into the ocean where it is further distributed by strong winds and currents.
In recent years, the MSI has been tracking marine debris via reports made through the Marine Debris Reporting Tool, as well as working with local groups to coordinate cleanup efforts. The reporting tool helps MSI collect data regarding marine debris found within Átl'ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound. The form is a place to report debris that cannot be easily cleaned up by the observer, which can include, but is not limited to, debris that is difficult/awkward to lift, dangerous to access, or too big for a garbage bin. MSI ask that if in doubt, please submit a report regardless.
Cairns said marine debris cleanup initiatives, including disposal and recycling fees, are expensive, so large-scale efforts such as this one are typically limited to once every year or two.
“Then through the Marine Stewardship Initiative, we also organize a handful of community cleanups throughout the year as well,” she said. ”For example, last spring, I believe in April, we organized a cleanup around the shores of Squamish and that was just on the shoreline with community members.”
To that end, MSI has launched a fundraising initiative in partnership with the Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative Society called the Howe Sounds Marine Debris Fund, where people can donate towards future clean-up efforts.
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