Outer Islands clean-up - 10.6 tons of marine debris collected

After the collection of 10.627 tons of marine debris on the beaches of 8 outer islands, Alphonse, Astove, Coetivy, Desroches, Farquhar, Platte, Poivre and Remire, the 36 volunteers who took part in the first ever large scale beach clean-up on the outer islands were awarded and recognized for a job well done.
The clean-up team consisted of IDC staff, members of The Ocean Project Seychelles, medical staff from the Ministry of Health and volunteers who did not make the shortlist for the Aldabra clean-up as well as several partners; Island Conservation Society, Alphonse Hotel, Desroches Hotel and the Prison Services which allowed a group of inmates on Coetivy to join in the clean-up.
As a sign of appreciation, they received trophies and letters of appreciation from President Danny Faure, Vice President Vincent Meriton and IDC CEO, Mr. Glenny Savy in a ceremony at the Savoy Resort & Spa.
The Ocean Project Seychelles which was in charge of data collection for the clean-up made a presentation on the quantity and composition debris collected – 18,028 flip flops, 1,962 lighters, 2 tons of ropes and nets, 18,224 plastic bottles, 2,594 glass bottles, 967 buoys, 703 lightbulbs and tubes, 34 FADs and 452 kg of foamed plastic.  
In his address, Mr. Savy thanked all the volunteers for the success of the activity. He called on everyone to help bring awareness on the impact of marine debris on the outer islands.
“There is an urgent need to inform the world of our dilemma, of the consequences of of inadequate waste management, of the need for more restraint when throwing away trash in the storm run-offs or leaving it on the beach after a picnic, of managing fishing operations in a more conscious and sustainable manner, and of the result of dumping all that we no longer have any need for along our coastlines.”
All the rubbish collected are being brought back to Mahe and a good amount will be recycled and re-used as a tool to create more awareness on the effects of rubbish in the ocean.
The Outer Islands Clean-Up exercise was held between 18th and 31st March as a follow-up to the Aldabra clean-up project.