Commissioner Jean-Pierre L. Oriol of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) is pleased to announce that the Division of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) will take part in the COAST WEEKS INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEANUP, also known as COASTWEEKS, from Saturday, September 21st to Saturday, October 26th.
This nationwide event, coordinated by The Ocean Conservancy, has played a crucial role in environmental conservation in the Virgin Islands for the past 30 years, thanks to the support of numerous community partners and the Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service.
“The removal of debris is essential for maintaining the vibrancy and aesthetic quality of our ecosystems,” said Commissioner Oriol. “Collecting data during cleanups is equally important as it helps us capture vital information, such as the types, quantities, and weight of debris removed. Without this data, simply removing debris does not effectively prevent or reduce future accumulation on our coastlines.”
CZM has designated the following beaches for this year’s cleanup:
- Lindbergh Beach on St. Thomas
- Columbus Landing, Salt River on St. Croix
DPNR is calling on the community for support. Student volunteers are encouraged to participate and can earn community service hours.
The St. Thomas cleanup will take place on Saturday, October 12th, and the St. Croix cleanup will happen on Saturday, October 19th. Both cleanups are from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.,
supplies, including gloves, bags, and water, will be provided.
For more information, please contact Zola Roper, Marine Debris Coordinator, at (340) 774-3320 ext. 5134 or via email at zola.roper@dpnr.vi.gov.
