Clear the Coast 2025

Plans are all set for a June expedition to remove marine debris, this time from the easterly portion of Cape Scott Provincial Park’s North Coast Trail. Three field teams will tackle Laura Creek, Shuttleworth Bight and Skinner Creek regions. We’ve been to Laura Creek previously, but the other two areas are new for us although frequently reported to be badly impacted by plastic debris. 

We’ve never been able to mount three separate teams before. Two factors enable us to do it this time: first, the amazing support of the Blue Friday corporate donors. Together, they raised nearly $30,000 to support our work. (This effort will cost about twice that amount, but you, our steadfast supporters, have always given generously to support this program.) 

The second factor enabling us to mount multiple crews is the dedication and skill of our volunteers.  Some have been with us for a decade now. A special call-out to Living Oceans Director and volunteer Eric Grantner, our longest-standing volunteer, for agreeing to lead Team 1 and to David Jensen, arguably the most highly-skilled of our volunteers in wilderness survival and debris extraction, for agreeing to lead Team 2.  Executive Director Karen Wristen leads the third team. Each will have a mix of new and experienced volunteers. 

After last year’s monumental efforts yielded over 60 tonnes of debris, we’re not sure what we’ll find. One thing that’s certain is that winter storms will have redistributed every piece of plastic that remained in the inaccessible, rocky coves of the region, hopefully bringing much of it within reach.