International Coastal Clean-up Day 2023: an activity coordinated by MNRE in Vaovai, Samoa.

Abstract

Marine litter negatively affects the environment, people and coastal economies around the world. In the Pacific region, the problem is even more severe given countries’ reliance on healthy ocean ecosystems and services. To promote a Cleaner Pacific, SPREP actively participated in the International Coastal Clean-up Day 2023 through the Agence française de Développement-funded SWAP Project, in collaboration with the Australian funded POLP Project, as well as the ISLANDS Pacific Ocean and PLASTIC TIDE TURNERS Projects. Hence, the SWAP project supported the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in Samoa to conduct a beach clean-up activity. 55 participants volunteered for the preservation of their environment by collecting 35 kg of waste from the mangrove of the village of Vaovai located in the Falealili District, Upolu, Samoa.