At the International Coastal Cleanup, 400 volunteers collected 435 kg of waste from Moda Beach, protecting our seas and oceans from pollution.
International Coastal Cleanup Event Unites 400 Volunteers, 435 Kg of Waste Collected from Moda Beach
ISTANBUL – The DenizTemiz Association/TURMEPA, which has been the official coordinator of the International Coastal Cleanup (International Coastal Cleanup® – ICC) since 2002, gathered volunteers on the shores once again this year.
In collaboration with Ocean Conservancy, and as one of the largest global environmental movements in the world, the ICC saw hundreds of volunteers and marine-conscious organizations unite for our seas under the leadership of TURMEPA. Volunteers, mobilized under the slogan #SeaTheChange, flocked to the shores simultaneously in Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, and Samsun.
The Istanbul leg of the event was held at Kadıköy Moda Beach with a high level of participation. 400 volunteers collected a total of 435 kilograms of waste, preventing this pollution from reaching our seas and oceans.
They Gathered on the Shores for Our Future
Every type and source of waste removed from the shores, ranging from plastic bottles to cigarette butts, and from packaging waste to glass bottles, was meticulously recorded. The collected data will be transformed into international reports that reveal the extent of marine and ocean pollution, shedding light on the creation of preventive measures and action plans in the fight against pollution.
Blue Struggle Across Turkey
Volunteers of all ages, united under the understanding that 'Where there is sea, there is life,' came together in simultaneous events held in Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, and Samsun, taking ownership of the future of our seas.
TURMEPA's Environmental and Sustainability Projects Manager Çağıl Toparlak Alkan told reporters that they collected waste from the shores at five different locations in Turkey on the occasion of 'International Coastal Cleanup Day.'
Alkan stated that they are working to keep the shores and seas clean with an increasing number of volunteers every day, saying, 'Today we gathered here with hundreds of our volunteers. Similarly, our events are continuing simultaneously in five different locations across Turkey, including Fethiye, Antalya, Izmir, and Samsun, in addition to Istanbul. We will share the waste data collected here with the international group later, ensuring that this becomes Turkey's waste data. This way, we will contribute to an analysis showing how waste changes each year, what it increases or decreases based on.'
Alkan emphasized that the event also aims to raise awareness in the community, stating, 'The waste we collect here could reach this place again the next day. Our goal is to draw attention to what types of waste are on the shores by encouraging public participation.'
Simultaneous Action with Millions of Volunteers in Over 120 Countries
The International Coastal Cleanup movement, initiated by Ocean Conservancy in 1986 and celebrating its 41st anniversary this year, is creating global awareness, reaching over 19 million volunteers in more than 120 countries today.
As the pioneer of this global movement in Turkey for 24 years, TURMEPA continues to contribute to scientific studies in the fight against marine and ocean pollution by transferring the data it collects to international reports.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
