PORT ANTONIO, Portland — Portlanders last Saturday turned out in impressive numbers and participated in International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) Day, even as one group’s effort to rid the beach at Folly of plastics was hampered by mangroves.

That group, known as the Patriots, started working from 6:00 am, cleaning sections of the Folly Peninsula, Folly Great House and the section known as ‘Jamal’.

“We are doing the Folly Peninsula as there are a number of events in this area, so it is a hotbed for garbage right on the coastline,” volunteer Andrine Rhoden told the Jamaica Observer North and East.

“We identified three areas that are quick deposits for garbage as we worked with three teams… We noticed that there are two man-made inlets from the East Harbour and they are like a constant feeder for garbage onto the coastline. At high tide this garbage is carried across the road and trapped by the mangroves. We can’t get to that and we don’t want to disturb the ecosystem, as one of the rules of the international coastal clean-up is that we can’t use implements, and some of the garbage is tiny,” Rhoden explained.

“These inlets carry everything from bottles, shoes, personal effects, and they go across and get trapped in the mangroves. That will require special help from the agencies. We will commit to make this our personal baby if we get help. This is beyond and above the expertise of the ordinary volunteers,” she said.

“We want people to come in and look at the area as we are not sure if the water content of the soil will cause us to sink. The inlets take the contents to a canal that deposits plastic bottles into a pit, and all of that is trapped by the mangroves,” Rhoden added.

She said the turnout of volunteers was good, noting that they included children, church groups, adults, and others.

At the East Harbour, members of Alligator Head Foundation, assisted by more than 70 volunteers from the Peace Corps, Scotiabank, returning residents, students from various schools and National Youth Service cleaned the area adjacent to the Port Antonio Craft Village — both on land and under water.

“We are really encouraged by the support from the community through the Alligator Head Foundation which is committed to marine conservation, as we are doing clean-up on land and under water as well, Alligator Head Foundation General Manager Nickie Myers told the Observer North and East.

“There are three boats that started at 7:00 am with staff members and community persons, and this is welcoming for marine conservation to work, for our mission to work,” Myers said, adding that one of the foundation’s goals is to ensure that the sea is filled with fish, that the reefs are healthy, and that communities are thriving.

“For that to work, we have to do it hand in hand. Today is a great example of what partnership is,” Myers said.

She also said that at the end of the exercise they would be having a Lionfish tasting in an effort to encourage people to eat that fish instead of Parrotfish so as to preserve the reef.

Joshua Bailey, manager at East Portland Fish Sanctuary, said two of the aims of International Coastal Clean-up Day are to collect data on the types of marine garbage affecting the coastline and encourage community activities that promote environmental conservation.

“We have 102 volunteers on land and sea and we have removed 943 pounds of garbage, with 205 pounds from the ocean consisting mainly of plastic bottles and plastic pieces,” he pointed out.

At Bryan’s Bay, Nadine Simpson-McKenzie, community development officer at the Social Development Commission, was leading another team from the LORBS Benevolent Society.

“We have found the usual things — styrofoam boxes, plastic bottles, tiles, car parts, and numerous household items,” she said. “It seems as if people just pass and dump or throw things down on the beach. Our volunteers are from the marlin tournament, Titchfield High, Boundbrook Primary, Red Cross and LORBS.”

The Lions Club and College of Agriculture, Science and Education’s Environmental Club were also involved in cleaning up at White River Fishing Bay.