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Coastal Cleanup is Coastweek's main event, offering Mainers an opportunity to protect our valuable coastline. The largest single volunteer event in the state, Coastal Cleanup involves people of all ages and backgrounds. Volunteers meet at a specified site, pick up trash, and record the type and amount of debris found. Not only does the coast get tidied up, but the data reported helps experts to pinpoint the sources of marine debris and devise solutions.
View a slideshow of Coastal Cleanup highlights from years past.
See the Ocean Conservancy's 2009 report, A Rising Tide of Ocean Debris and What We Can Do About It -- a report summarizing the 2008 international coastal cleanup, the impact of marine debrise, and the OC's key findings and recommendations (PDF 3.6M - low resolution).
We all know how irritating it can be to visit a beach and find it covered in trash and other debris, which can also foul boat propellers and clog engines.
Marine debris threatens animals as well--thousands die each year after eating or getting entangled in six pack rings, ghost nets, and old fishing line (the seal in the photo above was found in Penobscot bay recently, lacerated around the neck by the line entangling him).
The debris that winds up on our shores comes from many sources. Cigarette butts continue to be number one on our dirty dozen list. Some of these and other pieces of debris are the result of careless beach goers, boaters, fishing vessels, and ships. But another portion of it is washed from roads, yards, and parking lots into storm drains, streams, and rivers which then flow to the sea. The Ocean Conservancy uses our data to help identify the sources of marine debris and to find solutions for this ugly and dangerous garbage. Results from 1996-2000 are available in PDF format:
Here are some suggestions to help reduce coastal debris:
Registration is closed for 2009. Check back Summer 2010 for information on Coastweek 2010.
Bar Harbor, Grant Park
Bar Harbor sea wall
Belfast shoreline
Biddeford, Biddeford Pool
Biddeford, Fortunes Rocks Beach
Biddeford, Hills Beach
Blue Hill, Blue Hill Neck
Boothbay Harbor shoreline
Boothbay peninsula, Barretts Park
Boothbay peninsula, Ocean Point
Boothbay peninsula, Knickercane
Bristol, Pemaquid Beach
Brooksville beaches
Brooksville, Holbrook Island Sanctuary
Brooksville, Orrs Cove/Orrs Hill
Brooksville, Smith Cove
Brunswick, Thomas Bay/Thomas Point Beach
Camden, Camden Hills State Park
Camden, Harbor & Library Park
Camden, Laite Beach
Cape Elizabeth, Crescent Beach State Park
Cape Elizabeth, Two Lights State Park
Cumberland, town landing
Cushing shoreline
Cutler, Holmes Bay
Dennysville, Cobscook Bay State Park
East Machias, East Machias River shoreline
Eastport, Shackford Head State Park
Falmouth, Bayshore Road to Martins Point
Falmouth Foreside, Mackworth Island
Freeport, Wolfe's Neck Farm
Freeport, Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park
Friendship shoreline
Georgetown island shoreline
Georgetown, Reid State Park
Harpswell, Bailey Island
Harpswell, Orr's Island
Harpswell, Stover's Point
Islesboro, Warren Island State Park
Kennebunk, Gooch's Beach section of Kennebunk Beach
Kennebunk, Middle Beach section of Kennebunk Beach
Kennebunk, Mother's Beach section of Kennebunk Beach
Kennebunkport, Arundel Beach
Kennebunkport, Cleaves Cove Beach
Kennebunkport, Colony Beach
Kennebunkport, Goose Rocks Beach
Kittery, Crescent Beach
Kittery, Eagles Point
Kittery, Fort Foster Park
Kittery, Rogers Park
Kittery, Seapoint Beach
Kittery town wharf
Lamoine, Lamoine State Park
Lincolnville Beach
Lubec, Quoddy Head State Park
Ogunquit, Ogunquit Beach
Ogunquit, Foot Bridge Beach
Ogunquit, Moody Beach
Old Orchard Beach
Owls Head, Birch Point Beach
Owls Head, Holiday Park
Pemaquid peninsula
Penobscot, Bagaduce River shoreline
Penobscot, Northern Bay
Phippsburg, Hermit Island
Phippsburg, Popham Beach State Park
Portland, Back Cove
Portland, East End Beach
Portland, Payson Park
Portland, Peaks Island - Landing Beach
Prospect, Fort Knox State Historic Site
Richmond, Peacock Beach State Park
Rockland breakwater
Rockland Harbor shoreline
Rockport, Aldemere Farm
Rockport, Marine Park
Rockport, Walker Park
Rockport, Kramer Park
Roque Bluffs, Roque Bluffs State Park
Saco, Ferry Beach State Park
Saco, Camp Ellis beach
Saco, Bayview Beach
Scarborough, Ferry Beach
Scarborough, Higgins Beach
Scarborough, Pine Point Beach
Scarborough, Scarborough Beach State Park
Searsport, Moose Point State Park
Searsport, Mosman Park
Sedgwick, Eggemoggin Reach
South Berwick, Vaughan Woods State Park
South Freeport, Winslow Memorial Park
South Portland, Bug Light Park
South Portland, Green Belt Park
South Portland, Willard Beach
South Portland, Spring Point Beach
Southport, Hendrick's Head Beach
Southwest Harbor, Seawall Point
Stockton Springs, Fort Point ( Fort Pownall ) State Park
Stockton Springs, Sandy Point Beach
Surry
Swans Island
Topsham, Androscoggin River shoreline
Vinalhaven
Vinalhaven, Lane Island
Waldoboro shoreline
Wells, Drakes Island Beach
Wells, Wells Beach
Winter Harbor, Schoodic Point
Yarmouth, Cousins Island Beach
Yarmouth, Royal River shoreline
Yarmouth, Town Landing
York, Cape Neddick Beach
York, Harbor Beach
York, Short Sands Beach
York, Long Sands Beach
*noninclusive
Beals, Mill Pond area - Sept. 11 at 8am; fmi: Jessica Fagonde, 497-5449 or jessfagonde@union103.org
Bristol, Pemaquid Point & LaVerna Preserve - Sept. 19 at 9am; sponsored by Pemaquid Watershed Association; fmi: Donna Minnis, 563-2196 or info@pemaquidwatershed.org
Brooksville beaches - Sept. 16 at noon; sponsored by Brooksville Elementary School; fmi: Rick Alexander, 374-3766, 326-8500 or ralex@brooksvilleschool.org
Falmouth, Mackworth Island - Sept. 12 at 11am; sponsored by St. Mary the Virgin Church; fmi: Bonita Rodden, 781-2505 or brodden1@maine.rr.com
Freeport, Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park - Sept. 12 at 10am; sponsored by Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park; fmi: Andy Hutchinson, 865-4465 or andrew.hutchinson@maine.gov
Friendship, Hatchett Cove - Sept. 7; fmi: Sarah Foster, 832-4266 or driftwood@gwi.net
Georgetown coastline - Sept. 19 at 9am; sponsored by Georgetown Conservation Commission; fmi: Kat MacKay, 371-2255 or kfmackay@myfairpoint.net
Harpswell, Clark Cove - Sept. 19 at 10am; sponsored by Ocean Conservancy; fmi: Susan Olcott, 604-6989 or solcott@oceanconservancy.org
Harpswell, Stover's Point - Sept. 12; sponsored by Mt. Ararat Middle School; fmi: Barbara Swisher, 729-2950 or swisherb@link75.org
Kennebunk, Parsons Beach - Sept. 18 at 11am; sponsored by Kennebunk High School; fmi: Melissa Luetje or Stacy Towne, 985-1110 or mluetje@rsu21.net
Kennebunkport, Goose Rocks Beach - Sept. 13 at 9am; fmi: Lindsey Prichard, 604-4234, 292-5953 or brianprichard@msn.com
Kittery, Seapoint & Crescent Beaches, Rogers Park, Eagle Point, and PNSY - Sept. 12; sponsored by Kittery Conservation Commission; fmi: Earldean Wells, 439-2787 or earldeanwells@myfairpoint.net
Lubec beaches - Sept. 13; sponsored by APPLE; fmi: Ruta Jordans, 733-2997 or tours@toursoflubecandcobscook.com
Matinicus Island, Markey's Beach - Sept. 16 at 12:30pm; sponsored by Matinicus Island School; fmi: Heather Wells, 366-3725, 366-3526 or sevensmiles@excite.com
Matinicus Island, South Sandy Beach - Sept. 19 at 8am; fmi: Lana Caannon, 366-3439, 366-3526 or lana.cannon11@yahoo.com
Ogunquit, Ogunquit Beach - Sept.12; sponsored by Blue Ocean Society; fmi: Andrew Hayford, 361-1790 or dhayford@maine.rr.com
Portland, Back Cove - Sept. 25; sponsored by Aucocisco School; fmi: Kim Dixon, 773-7323 or kdixon@aucociscoschool.org
Portland, East End Beach - Sept. 19 at 2:30; fmi: Lincoln Paine, 774-1573, 653-4420 or LPaine1@maine.rr.com
Saco, Bayview Beach - Sept. 19 at 10am; sponsored by Saco Bay Neighborhood and Girl Scouts of Maine; fmi: Patsy Root, 284-7178, 556-8947 or proot@maine.rr.com
Scarborough, Higgins Beach - Sept. 12 at 9am; sponsored by Surfrider Foundation-Northern New England Chapter; fmi: 653-8951 or nne@surfrider.org
South Portland, Bug Light Park - Sept. 12 at 10am; sponsored by Friends of Casco Bay; fmi: Peter Milholland, 799-8574 or pmilholland@cascobay.org
South Portland, Spring Point Beach - Sept. 19 at 8am; sponsored by Share Willard Beach; fmi: Susan Chase, 617-7840 or smchase@gwi.net
Thomaston, St. George River harbor - Sept. 13; sponsored by Thomaston Grammer School; fmi: Daniel Allan, 354-0822, 354-6353 or dallan@msad50.org
Vinalhaven - Sept. 17 at 8:30am; sponsored by Vinalhaven School; fmi: Yvonne Thomas, 863-4800, 863-4849 or ythomas@vinalhavenschool.org
Wells, Wells Beach - Sept. 19 at 8:30am; fmi: Lucy Hardy, 646-9975 or dhardy@maine.rr.com
York, Long Sands Beach - Sept. 19; sponsored by Blue Ocean Society; fmi: Andrew Hayford, 361-1790 or dhayford@maine.rr.com
York, York Harbor Beach - Sept. 30 at 8:30am; sponsored by St. Christopher Church; fmi: Julia Peterson, 363-9228, 749-1565 or jpeterson207@gmail.com