MARINE litter researcher, Seba Sheavly, has lauded the efforts of volunteers in bringing about legislative change to protect the marine environment.

Sheavly, a consultant with Ocean Conservancy - an international environmental organisation which hosted its International Coastal Cleanup conference in Montego Bay last month - pointed to the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act (MDRPR), passed in the United States Senate in 2005.

Seba Sheavly, marine litter consultant to Ocean Conservancy, speaks to participants at the International Coastal Cleanup Conference on Wednesday. (Photo: Keril Wright)

The bill is aimed at reducing marine pollution and strengthening ocean ecosystems.

"Keep your work up," Sheavly encouraged a roomful of international co-coordinators and volunteers at the Half Moon Hotel. "You are why the beach debris movement is still moving."

She added that the eventual passing of the MDRPR Act was made possible due to the tireless efforts of thousands of volunteers in the United States, who recovered labeled and monitored marine trash in US water ways, over a five year period.

"This shows that volunteers working together can enact real change," Sheavly encouraged.

Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup is a year round effort aimed at keeping the world's oceans free from trash and safer for people and animals. It is the largest single-day volunteer event to protect oceans and waterways with some six million volunteers in 127 countries.
The 23rd annual international coastal cleanup is scheduled for September 20 this year.

According to the organisation's 2007 report some 75 000 pounds of trash was recovered around Jamaica's coastal waters during the clean-up activity last year. The organisation said that trash in the oceans kill more than 10,000 marine mammals and turtles each year through entanglement and ingestion. Last year volunteers found 237 ocean animals entangled in fishing line, plastic bags, six pack holders and rope.

Additionally it has identified, cigarettes, cigarette filters, food wrappers/containers, caps/lids, bags, beverage bottles and disposable cups/plates/forks among the top 10 debris items collected worldwide. Trash in the ocean occurs overwhelmingly from activities taking place on land.

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