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Project AWARE Foundation's International Cleanup Day PSAs Michael Newman - Low (1.20 MB) high (2.35 MB) Sharon Lawrence - Low (1.20 MB) high (2.35 MB)

This Saturday, 16 September more than 300,000 volunteers will help protect underwater environments around the globe by taking action on International Cleanup Day. This cleanup event, involving divers and shoreline participants of all ages, is the largest single-day event of its kind. And it’s an event volunteers won’t soon forget.

Project AWARE Foundation organizes the underwater portion of International Cleanup Day in cooperation with dive professionals in more than 100 countries and territories around the world. The thousands of individual divers that volunteer as part of these events are a vital part of the effort to remove aquatic debris and help solve debris issues.

“Divers have been involved in underwater cleanup and protection efforts for decades,” comments Dr. Drew Richardson, Chairman of Project AWARE Foundation. “International Cleanup Day is an annual event to dedicate dive training and skills to remove harmful debris found beneath the surface. The data collected by divers on this day,
contributes to the overall effort to resolve these issues.”

Project AWARE Foundation’s underwater data is combined with land-based information collected by Ocean Conservancy volunteers. If the results from previous years are any indication, the more than 300,000 volunteers should remove nearly 3.6 million kilograms/8.0 million pounds of debris during September’s events. In the past, top items collected both on land and underwater include cigarettes, beverage containers and food wrappers. Data also reveals that nearly 200 entangled animals were recovered in 2004 – many harmed by discarded fishing line.

Why should you volunteer this International Cleanup Day? Debris is a consequence of everyone’s actions and sixty percent of this debris results from shoreline and recreational activities. Debris is a preventable problem and you can help influence change.

Volunteer for one of the most rewarding afternoons of your life. Search the List of Cleanup Locations below and find an International Cleanup Day event near you.