MEDIA RELEASE

The annual shoreline cleanup is coming around again.

The cleanup includes beach and underwater surveys so divers and non-divers are welcome to participate. Gloves, survey cards and bags are supplied.

Though the date is Saturday, Sept. 19, data collected during cleanups performed through Oct. 31 will be included in 2009 reports.  

Here’s the Big Island schedule:

* Saturday, Sept. 12, Puako and Waialea (Beach 69), hosted by Puako Community Association.

Meet at 7 a.m. Clean up of shoreline will be done on the beach, trails, campsites, and underwater.  The Puako Beach Drive site alone consists of approximately 10 blocks.

Contact: Wanda Rowan at wanda.john@live.com or 854-9855.  Air tanks provided by Blue Wilderness Divers. To reserve, call 886-8086.

* Saturday, Sept. 19, Kailua Pier, hosted by Jack’s Diving Locker.

For Dive Club members, tank rental is free and gear rental half off, so meet at the town shop at 9 a.m. Other volunteers can show up at the pier when they want.  Clean-up will finish by noon at the pier, followed by a potluck by the pool.

* Saturday, Sept. 19, Puako: Paniau to Holoholo Kai, hosted by Puako Community Association. Meet at 7am.  Contact: Wanda Rowan at wanda.john@live.com or 854-9855. Kohala Divers offering free air rental / refill, call 882-7774.

* Saturday, Sept. 19, Honokohau Harbor/South Beach. Meet at 9 a.m.

Volunteers can sign up online via the Ocean Conservancy Web site at www.signuptocleanup.org or contact Christine Woolaway at cwoolaway@hawaii.rr.com

More on the International Coastal Cleanup…

This year marks the 24th annual International Coastal Cleanup. At last year’s Cleanup, nearly 400,000 volunteers collected more than 6.8 million pounds of trash in 100 countries and 42 U.S. states, the largest volunteer effort of its kind.

Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup isn’t just about pollution cleanup, it’s also about pollution prevention. The event focuses on educating and empowering people to become a part of the marine debris solution.

To see what the world has done during the ICC, go to www.flickr.com & search International Coastal Cleanup.

To learn more about this project, visit www.oceanconservancy.org