Community Mobilization Leads to Removal of Over 1,600 Pounds of Marine Debris

In a remarkable display of community spirit and environmental stewardship, the Virgin Islands saw more than 1,600 pounds of trash removed from its cherished natural settings last month. This monumental effort was spearheaded by the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) and the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR), highlighting the power of collaborative initiatives in environmental conservation.

The concerted effort kicked off with the Ruth Cay Cleanup on February 23. This event saw a dedicated group of 10 volunteers band together to extract 447 pounds of refuse, totaling 809 pieces of debris from the environment. This collection prominently featured single-use plastic beverage bottles, with 186 bottles reclaimed from nature. A particularly striking find was a heavy 240-pound industrial rope, an unexpected sight along the cay’s south shore, underscoring the diverse nature of marine debris.

The momentum continued the next day with the 2024 St. Croix Great Mangrove Cleanup. An impressive turnout of 29 volunteers, ranging from two to 65 years old, devoted their time to the mangrove shorelines of Altona Lagoon. Their collective effort resulted in the retrieval of 1,155 pounds of trash and hurricane debris, comprising 2,683 items. The majority of this haul was made up of single-use beverage containers, numbering 723, in addition to 334 food wrappers and 244 plastic bottle caps. The variety of debris collected also included some unconventional items, such as two full-size bathtubs, a washing machine, and numerous children’s toys.

Dr. Kristin Wilson Grimes, a research associate professor of Watershed Ecology at UVI, spoke on the critical issue of terrestrial pollution affecting marine environments in the U.S. Virgin Islands. She highlighted the significant impact that community involvement has on combating this issue. Dr. Grimes advocated for minimizing the use of single-use items and ensuring proper disposal of waste to protect our natural surroundings.

The St. Croix Great Mangrove Cleanup, supported by UVI, DPNR, Virgin Islands EPSCoR, Atlantic Trucking, and the NOAA’s Marine Debris Program, is part of a broader initiative aimed at ecological conservation in the Virgin Islands. Since its inception in 2018, these efforts have rallied hundreds of volunteers, resulting in the removal of over 14 tons (28,161 pounds) of marine debris from the territory’s coastlines.

UVI undergraduate student Savannah Carroll expressed her joy in participating in these cleanups, noting the immediate and lasting positive impact on the ecosystem and marine life.

Looking ahead, upcoming cleanup events are scheduled for St. John and St. Thomas on March 9 and April 20, respectively. These events offer an opportunity for community members to earn service hours while contributing to a vital cause. For those interested in joining these noble efforts or seeking more information on marine debris cleanup in the Territory, please contact Zola Roper at zola.roper@dpnr.vi.gov or register at https://www.viepscor.org/gmc-registration.