New projects underway to clean up another 1,900 km of B.C. shoreline

Aug. 14, 2024

VICTORIA – People and wildlife in coastal communities of British Columbia will soon benefit from a cleaner coast because of new funding from the Province.

“British Columbians and communities along our spectacular coastline want and deserve to enjoy an environment free of marine debris and plastic pollution,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. “We now know the harms that plastic waste causes to marine life and also how it finds its way into human-food sources as it breaks down. We are proud to support these innovative projects to reduce and collect plastic waste and create a cleaner, healthier shoreline for communities and wildlife to enjoy today and in the future.”

As part of the Clean Coast, Clean Waters (CCCW) initiative, the Province is investing $8 million for 17 more projects in 2024 in collaboration with small businesses, non-profit organizations and First Nations to tackle marine debris and plastic pollution along B.C.’s coastlines, while supporting economic development and jobs for people.

“What people often miss when marvelling at the beauty of British Columbia is the devastating impacts humans have caused to the marine ecosystem,” said Kyle Watters, assistant field supervisor at Let’s Talk Trash, one of this year’s recipients of CCCW funding. “The CCCW funding is integral to empowering coastal communities to make waves in terms of cleanup efforts. It allows us to contribute directly to maintaining the health of this beloved ecosystem, which is an essential life-support system of the planet and has inherent value in climate resiliency.”

Since 2020, the Clean Coast, Clean Waters initiative has removed 215 derelict vessels and cleaned up more than 2,100 tonnes of marine debris from more than 6,400 kilometres of shoreline, while creating or maintaining nearly 2,400 well-paying jobs. This year’s projects are expected to clean an additional 1,900 kilometres of shoreline, remove at least 31 derelict vessels and clean at least six derelict aquaculture sites, creating 639 new jobs. Seven of the 17 projects are being led by First Nations.

“səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) is grateful for Clean Coast, Clean Waters funding to support cleanup along the Tsleil-Waututh Nation reserve shoreline,” said Chief Jen Thomas, səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation). “This funding will allow us to remove a pile of asphalt and concrete that was brought into our community years ago. As active stewards of the land and waters, this shoreline cleanup is important to Tsleil-Waututh people, and we expect the project to have positive impacts for water quality as well as overall ecological health and biodiversity.”

The funding is part of a $25-million provincial investment announced in May 2023, which brings the Clean Coast, Clean Waters funding to $49.83 million.

The CCCW initiative is part of the CleanBC Plastics Action Plan to reduce pollution from plastic waste. The initiative is also closely tied to the Province’s new Coastal Marine Strategy, developed in collaboration with First Nations.

Quick Facts:

The fund is intended for marine coastal First Nations, local governments and B.C. non-profits and organizations with experience in marine cleanup.
Three types of projects are supported under the fund: marine-shoreline cleanup, derelict-vessel removal and derelict aquaculture-site cleanup.
This is the first year that CCCW has been able to provide funding to projects under the newly established funding stream for derelict aquaculture-site cleanup.

Learn More:

For more information about the Clean Coast, Clean Waters Initiative Fund, visit: https://bccleancoast.ca

For information about B.C.’s Coastal Marine Strategy, visit: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/coastalmarinestrategy/

For a backgrounder about the funding recipients, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/CCCW_2024_FundingRecipients.pdf

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy
Media Relations
250 953-3834

BACKGROUNDER

Aman Singh, Parliamentary Secretary for Environment –

“Everyone benefits when our natural environment is free of plastic pollution. CCCW and the dedicated efforts of our partner organizations help ensure coastal areas in B.C. are cleaner and more enjoyable for people, families, communities and marine life.”

Nathan Cullen, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship –

“Protecting our oceans is important to everyone in British Columbia. Plastic waste does not belong in our marine environment and Clean Coast, Clean Waters supports the important work of our coastal communities and First Nations to address this.”

Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction –

“People care about having meaningful jobs that work to protect the environment. These locally led coastal cleanups will help First Nation and rural communities’ economies while creating a cleaner environment – that’s good for everyone.”

William Hanuse, Wuikinuxv First Nation –

“The opportunity to really clean up our territory gives us so much pride and gratitude to know what we’ve accomplished and will achieve in the near future.”

Abby McLennan, co-director of field infrastructure, Ocean Legacy Foundation –

“Working with the Clean Coast, Clean Waters funding and Ocean Legacy makes the impossible possible. Not only are we able to embark on large-scale, complex cleanups co-created with local and Indigenous communities, but also are able to go the next step and source separate material to prioritize recycling and reuse, which will remain inherently more expensive than simply landfilling. I raise my hands up to the Province for enabling this impactful cleanup work that affects our coastline ecosystems, communities and future generations.”

Kevin Smith, expedition leader and president, Maple Leaf Adventures –

“We feel immense gratitude for the Clean Coast, Clean Waters fund for making this possible. To us, it’s not done until whales stop being entangled, plastic stops breaking down on beaches and seabirds are out of danger of ingesting plastic. As eco-tourism operators, doing this work as part of travel is what the future of tourism looks like.”

Jenelle Higham, operations manager, Rugged Coast Research Society –

“The CCCW initiative funding is crucial for our collaborative efforts in preserving and restoring vital ecosystems, ensuring a healthier and more resilient coastal environment. Additionally, this funding enables us to create partnerships with local Indigenous communities and support their efforts to manage and conduct shoreline-, derelict vessel and aquaculture cleanup efforts within their territories, thereby protecting their ancestral lands.”

Katherine MacRae, president, Wilderness Tourism Association –

“The Wilderness Tourism Association is a proud supporter of the Small Ship Tour Operators Association’s continued dedication to our coast, regenerative tourism and the wildlife inhabiting these remote coastal areas. We are forever grateful to the Heiltsuk, Kitasoo Xai’xais, and Gitga’at Nations for their continued support and partnership in this important work.”

Ryan Masson, captain of the Island Roamer, Bluewater Adventures –

“Many of our experienced crew participated in the 2020 and 2021 expeditions and got to revisit sites on Aristazabal Island that they personally cleaned three years ago. It’s shocking how much plastic, styrofoam, commercial-fishing gear and debris has reaccumulated on these beaches. As coastal guides and lovers of the ocean, we understand the importance of keeping our shorelines and marine ecosystems healthy, and funding from CCCW enables us to do this.”

Contact:

Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy
Media Relations
250 953-3834

NT5