B.C. cleaning up coasts this summer

British Columbia will be cleaning up 1,200 kilometres of coastline this summer, in a series of projects launched in cooperation with coastal Indigenous Nations. This summer, more than $9.5 million from the Clean Coast, Clean Waters (CCCW) Initiative Fund will be used to clean shorelines and remove approximately 100 derelict vessels from the north coast down to southern Vancouver Island. The funding is being distributed to four agencies: the Songhees Development Corporation, the Small Ship Tour Operators Association – Wilderness Tourism Association, the Coastal Restoration Society and the Ocean Legacy Foundation. “The scale of the problem is massive, and we need to do much more to address ocean debris and its devastating impacts on marine life and food sources,” said George Heyman, B.C.’s minister of environment and climate change strategy. “The enthusiastic response to our call for project applications shows how deeply British Columbians care about our marine ecosystems and the strong desire to be part of restoring and protecting these waters.” CCCW responds directly to the strong public call to action on marine debris heard from coastal communities during a comprehensive consultation in summer 2019. The main concerns raised by local governments and individuals included abandoned vessels, mooring buoys, polystyrene foam, aquaculture debris and single-use plastics. “I am pleased to see the involvement of so many coastal Indigenous communities that are undertaking their own projects or partnering with others,” said Murray Rankin, minister of indigenous relations and reconciliation. “The marine environment lies at the heart of coastal First Nations’ culture, traditions and livelihoods, and these projects will help protect those values.” The CCCW initiative is an important part of the CleanBC Plastics Action Plan and its goal to address plastic pollution.