International ocean cleanup campaign: ambitious plan to tackle the plastic crisis

At the global level, the International Organization for Environmental Protection has launched an extensive campaign to clean the oceans, targeting the removal of millions of tons of plastic waste that pollutes our seas. The initiative, which includes thousands of volunteers around the world, represents the latest step in addressing the growing ecological crisis caused by plastic, which is becoming a serious threat not only to marine life but also to human communities dependent on healthy oceans.

Scope and challenges of global ocean cleanup

This year’s Global Ocean Cleanup Campaign, held on June 15 and 16, 2024, involved a collective effort of thousands of participants, organizations, and local initiatives aimed at removing waste from marine ecosystems around the world. The initiative was carried out in partnership with Sea Turtle Week and other organizations, focusing on protecting sensitive coastal and marine habitats, where pollution from plastic poses a direct threat to life and the overall ecology of marine animals.

An example of one of the highlighted cleanup sites is the Diani-Chale Marine Reserve in Kenya, which faces significant pressure due to excessive tourism and plastic pollution. This beach, known for the nesting sites of green and hawksbill sea turtles, has become a hotspot for cleanup activities as the large amount of plastic waste threatens the success of nesting and hatching of young animals. The action in this area was organized in collaboration with the Kenya Young Biodiversity Network, which works to raise awareness of biodiversity loss through various environmental protection projects.

A similar situation has been observed on Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam, where cleanup was carried out within a protected marine area covering about 9,740 hectares of coral habitats. Phu Quoc faces enormous challenges in waste management due to the combination of local and tourist waste, as well as plastic arriving from neighboring countries. The project is supported by the non-profit organization Phu Quoc Clean & Green, which has been successfully implementing various ecological initiatives for over eight years with more than 8,700 volunteers.

Critical impacts of plastic waste and global collaboration

While Kenya and Vietnam were key locations of this year’s campaign, similar actions took place at other locations such as Tonga, El Salvador, and the Maldives. In Vava'u, Tonga, the cleanup action focused on communities that manage their own fishing resources and actively reduce pollution to protect sensitive coral reefs and seagrass areas. This project, led by the VEPA organization, is an example of local initiatives based on scientific data and traditional knowledge.

In El Salvador, FUNZEL, a local environmental organization, organized cleanups of two beaches within the protected area, where mangroves often serve as a habitat for many species of migratory birds and sea turtles. FUNZEL is focused on wildlife conservation in El Salvador, with a special emphasis on sea turtles, and actively removes waste to protect these vulnerable species from the threats posed by plastic waste.

Technological advancements for ocean cleanup

One of the most significant innovations this year comes from The Ocean Cleanup organization, which in 2024 successfully removed more than 10 million pounds of waste from the oceans and rivers. Their waste collection systems, such as the Interceptor, have been crucial in reducing the amount of plastic moving from rivers to oceans. The Interceptor system set up in Bangkok has successfully intercepted significant amounts of waste, and a recent partnership with the Coldplay group will enable the installation of new systems in Jakarta, Sri Lanka, and India.

Campaigns like these are not just a physical effort to clean up waste, but also a vital source of data for important scientific studies that contribute to a better understanding of the sources of plastic pollution and its effects on the environment. The data collected allows lawmakers to make informed decisions to reduce plastic waste at the source.

Importance of global volunteer efforts

In addition to technology, the key strength of such initiatives lies in volunteers. The International Coastal Cleanup, the largest global effort to clean coastal and marine areas, attracted more than 486,000 volunteers in 2024, who collected nearly 8 million pounds of waste. Among the collected items, the most common were cigarette butts, beverage bottles, and bottle caps. These efforts are not just a physical action but also a symbolic movement to raise awareness and change habits in local communities worldwide.

All these efforts share a common goal: to protect the marine world and ensure a plastic-free future for our oceans. Plastic waste not only endangers marine animals, such as sea turtles, dolphins, and corals, but also accumulates in the food chain, affecting human health. The ocean cleanup campaign, which includes everything from advanced technology to mobilizing local communities, therefore represents hope for future generations.