B.C. sets new coastline cleanup targets

RICHMOND, B.C. – The Province of British Columbia is funding new projects in partnership with coastal and Indigenous communities to clean as much as 1,000 kilometres of coastline and remove as many as 30 derelict vessels.

The Clean Coast, Clean Waters Initiative Fund will receive an additional $3.8 million to be used this summer to clean up and remove polluting marine debris.

The Coastal Restoration Society, Misty Isles Economic Development Society and the Ocean Legacy Foundation have been selected and “will build on their success and experience from earlier phases of the program,” a government release stated.

“As a long-time resident of a coastal B.C. community, I know the negative effects of marine debris and plastics first-hand. I am thrilled to see this new investment that will support healthy marine environments for Haida Gwaii and other coastal areas,” North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice said.

To date the Clean Coast, Clean Waters Initiative has removed more than 1,000 tonnes of debris, including more than 250 tonnes of derelict vessels (86 vessels), recycled or upcycled 65 per cent of material recovered from shoreline projects and cleaned nearly 4,000 kilometres of shoreline, a 40.7 per cent increase from the original target of 2,800 kilometres.

Clean Coast, Clean Waters is part of the CleanBC Plastics Action Plan and its goal to reduce plastic pollution and is also part of B.C.’s $10-billion COVID-19 response.