Project AWARE Foundation International Cleanup Day
ments Conser vin g Under water Envoron
Divers
2010
SM
Snapshot
Thank You Dear Friends,
Jenny Miller Garmendia Executive Director Project AWARE Foundation
Together, we’ve removed debris from underwater environments and contributed data on marine debris for 17 years. And because of your dedication, we’ve tackled debris projects in more than 100 countries and territories – from our favorite local dive sites to some of the most remote ocean places. Thank you for supporting International Cleanup Day worldwide in 2010. Because of you, AWARE divers are increasingly recognized as a unique and integral part of marine debris solutions. A cleanup campaign of this magnitude could not be accomplished without your combined passion, dedication and support. As I’ve visited with several of you in the past year, the volunteer faces and the underwater places we’re working to protect take on a renewed meaning for me. Seeing your work personally, and sharing in your successes, shines a bright light on our ocean future. Marine debris is one of the most widespread, pervasive epidemics facing our entire ocean planet. And we need your help now, more than ever. Removing debris underwater is but one important part of the solution - but alone it is not the answer. Now it’s time to build on our momentum and take our work a few steps further. In 2011, we launch the beginnings of, not only a new organization, but a new, comprehensive marine debris program. The new program includes focused year-round data collection, assessment and debris removal efforts to help identify the world’s worst debris hot spots, prioritize grassroots prevention and urge policy on regional, national and international levels. Most of all, our re-launch in 2011, focuses even more on you as part of a powerful, growing community of divers. You and your efforts will be front and center of this new movement for ocean protection. Together, we’ll bring about positive change for our ocean planet, implementing lasting protection for critical habitats and marine species. Sincerely,
Jenny Miller Garmendia Executive Director Project AWARE Foundation
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Top Ten Trash Items Found: The Facts
1
Plastic Bottles
3
Plastic Bags
5 7 9
175,018
81,878
49,061 Caps, Lids
46,109
Beverage Cans
28,388 Straws, Stirrers
2
89,945 Cigarette Filters
4
Food Wrappers
6
Glass Bottles
8
Fishing Line
10
56,653
48,764
42,856
26,309
Cups, Plates, Utensils
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3
4
5
6
sia
y , Mala Centre 00kg g in iv 1 B&J D nteers, 53 volu
Fantasea Diver s, Egypt 30 volunteers , 60kg
“We see the difference before and after cleaning. We educate, make new friends and are part of a team. We are proud that we can make our dive site clean.” Evelyn Bernadinus Downbelow Marine & Wildlife Adventures, Malaysia
, Denmark Lost Divers , 646kg ers 25 volunte
“In our dive group, every dive is a cleanup dive. We have emphasized to the local government (by showing the trash collected underwater) that as a community which relies on the ocean for sustainance, we should be the frontliners in the protection of our marine environment.” Vladimir Elazegui, Scuba de Oro, Philippines
Divers Edu, South Korea 30 volunteers, 350kg
7
d States awaii, Unite My Dive, H rs, 570lbs 11voluntee
Instituto Ec o Fa 50 volunte ers
axina,Bra zil s, 380kgs
m
Kingdo , United a b u c S l Seas teers Christe 9 volun
China Dive an d Happy Dive, China 35 volunteers , 100kg
“Thank you for your continued encouragement and support, our volunteers were excited to feel a part of an international event with people all over the world contributing to the act of reclaiming our oceans from debris.” Gabrielle Douglas Andros Conservancy and Trust, Bahamas
“Lots of people were involved in this event and their awareness for the marine debris problem has become bigger, which is the most important thing.” Pedro Navarro, Centro Buceo Mojacar, Spain
Kuwait Dive Team, Kuwait 20 volunteers, 2880kg
sia ers,Malay Borneo Div teers n 81 volu
Italy Peppo Sub, 75kg , rs ee nt 28 volu
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aldives elax, M kg R & e Div 044 Meridis olunteers, 1 104 v
Eagle Divers, Mex ico 19 volunteers, 57 0kg
“This is the first clean up I have arranged. Next year we plan to schedule monthly cleanups and look at the best way to educate people to be more AWARE.” Kristian Rahbek, Coral Grand Divers, Denmark
witzerland
usen, S ot Newha Tauchdep rs, 452 kg e te 40 volun
“One member of the team owns a small snack bar where they have been using throw away plastic cups, plates and cutlery. After joining us on the cleanup this volunteer has vowed not to buy anymore of these products (as this is what he spent 3 hours picking up on the beach) and find alternatives for his bar.” Susanna Phipps, Utila Dive Centre, Utila
Wadi Gamal , Egypt 21 volunteers, 900kg
9
Bucea en M 54 volu arbella, Spain nteers, 380kg
8
Wassage Div 80 vo
8
vers, Indonesia olunteers
uinea
G a New g, Papu 39kg in iv D 2 ng Lissenu 8 volunteers, 5
S-Style, Viento , Blue Season , CAAN, Dives Kosuke and N hop amiyoi Kujira, Japan 300 volunteers
“The cleanup was a great day out for all the children involved. For them, they don’t get the chance to experience the sea or to see the devastating effects of marine debris on the beaches first-hand. So in them, they bring real hope to be the seeds of change.” Lena Lau, Thalassa Dive Centre, Indonesia “We dived the first time at this site and expected a lot of trash. But we were positively surprised that the underwater world was actually intact and even thriving with Posidonia grass, pen shells and lots of fishes. This Marine Protected Area shows in the 15 years since its protection people have changed and learnt something.”
Maui Dre ams Dive 12 volun Co, Hawaii, USA teers, 30 0lbs
Alessandro Di Mase, European Diving Center, Italy
Dolp Australi Dolphin tralia hinDive a Dive, ,WA SA,, Aus 18 18 Volu voluntee nteers rs
pines , Philip ld r o W 25kg Scuba nteers, 26 volu
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Special Thanks Thanks to the invaluable support of so many significant partners and volunteers worldwide Project AWARE’s cleanup campaign reaches every corner of the globe. We truly appreciate all your efforts – big and small – to support this vital cause.
Easy D ivers, T 34 volu hailand nteers
Special thanks to: • Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) for giving us such incredible work space and in-kind resources we could not otherwise afford alone. Thank you for training the divers and professionals that drive the cleanup campaign worldwide. • McBeth Foundation and other private foundations for their generous financial contributions to support and engage scuba divers on a grassroots level. • Manta Reisen and additional corporate sponsors for their ongoing commitment to ocean protection. • Ocean Conservancy and other nonprofit partners who prioritize debris issues and stand together for solutions. • Dive centers, resorts and cleanup coordinators who organized fundraising activities in the name of underwater conservation on the day of the event. • Each and every individual who made a gift to support marine debris cleanup, prevention and the work toward lasting solutions. Finally, thank you to each and every volunteer, in-water and out, who are the key to our shared success. Only through your ongoing partnership and commitment can we continue to build a grassroots movement to solve marine debris issues. Key supporters of Project AWARE’s International Cleanup Day
Stay Connected Visit www.projectaware.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProjectAWAREFoundation Twitter: www.twitter.com/projectaware FlickR: www.flickr.com/photos/projectawarefoundation
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Tips to Keep Waters Debris Free • Remove debris on every recreational dive or shoreline visit. • The number two item found worldwide was cigarette filters. Always dispose of them properly and never overboard. • Reduce, reuse, recycle. • Avoid buying plastic products. • Be aware of everything you buy and avoid excessive packaging. • Demand improved and increased number of recycling facilities for your area. • Properly dispose of all pieces of fishing line, net or other associated litter. • Keep plastics and rubbish off the ground and the ocean floor. • Keep storm drains and shorelines free of rubbish. • Get involved in shoreline and underwater cleanups with Project AWARE yearround or during September’s International Cleanup Day events.
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Project AWARE Foundation For more information, visit www.projectaware.org or contact your Project AWARE office. Project AWARE Foundation* (Headquarters & Americas) 30151 Tomas, Suite 200 Rancho Santa Margarita CA, 92688-2125 USA Phone: +1 866 80 AWARE (US and Canada) or +1 949 858 7657 Fax: +1 949 267 1221 Email: information@projectaware.org Project AWARE Foundation* (International) Unit 7, St. Philips Central Albert Road, St. Philips Bristol BS2 0PD Great Britain Phone: +44 (0)117 300 7313 Fax: +44 (0)117 300 7270 Email: info@projectaware.org.uk Project AWARE Foundation* (Asia Pacific) Unit 3, 4 Skyline Place Frenchs Forest NSW 2086, Australia Tel: +61 2 9454 2890 Fax: +61 2 9454 2999 Email: info@projectaware.org.au Project AWARE Foundation* (Europe) Oberwilerstrasse 3 8442 Hettlingen Switzerland Phone: +41 52 243 32 32 Fax: +41 52 243 32 33 Email: info@projectaware.ch Project AWARE (Japan) Phone: +81 3 5721 1731 Fax: +81 3 5721 1735 Email: padijpn@padi.co.jp
* A nonprofit tax-exempt organization
© Project AWARE Foundation 2011
Haad Yao Divers, Thailand remove abandoned net from reef