A Glimpse of a Coastal Cleanup

Homes and offices and their surroundings are of late being decorated and visually enhanced by materials and motifs we can only see in natural surroundings: forests, waterfalls, rivers, mountains, and even deep underneath the world’s seas and oceans. Aquariums, pets, plants around us manifest such penchant and our appreciation and, perhaps, longing for, Mother Nature. We wonder, however, how those bits and pieces of nature are acquired, how frequent, and its impact on the existing ecological balance.

Answers vary and many: endangered species, dying rivers, bald mountains, dirty seas and ocean floors, to name a few. While it is not a common practice to replace what is taken from nature (takes years to replace and rebuild even if we do it ourselves, or when others do it for us), the worse part is, we aggravate the situation by leaving TRASH behind. (But then again, even outer space is already a man-made landfill, er, airfill, for scientific debris?)

Going nearer and more visible, right here on glorious Mother Earth”s seas and oceans , we can observe the recklessness and ignorance thrown on our aquatic wildlife. Take for example the beaches and dive sites in Anilao, Batangas in the Philippines. The open seas near its beaches are roads for ferries and boats and even for some commercial ships. The beaches are home to residences and resorts that, put in tourists that visit the place, altogether pollute the beaches and nearby waters.

While the practice may not be exclusive to a poor country like the Philippines and is also observed worldwide, it easily happens and much worse in countries where implementation of laws is weak. and inconsistent. Regular sea travelers know that our seas are dirty. Fishermen know that well, too. Divers know best. Appliances on the sea floor? They will tell you “Oh yes, Virginia. There is a wolf down there!”

I was lucky to have a first-hand experience on how seas could be as dirty as can be, thanks to a tennis playmate who happens to be the prexy of the LWUA Diver’s Club, Mr. Rodrigo “Rod” Magno. Already a duly certified diving instructor, Rod would easily be the most devoted and enthusiastic diver in his club. With his diving experience he can easily talk about the beauty and wonders that lurks underneath our seas and oceans. And on its “ugly” side also.

In between tennis games and breaks, Rod would at times entice and lure me into learning the craft of diving. “’Pre, sarap sa ilalim. Iba!” which means “Buddy, its wonderful down there”. Variety of fishes of different sizes and colors and habitat and traits and marine plants – the whole gamut of what divers see down there. Of course, I lack the actual touch and encounter but thanks to the various cable channels that feature Earth’s Wildlife, I cannot overemphasize that I have the scantiest idea. Artifacts, too he would run a tale or two on shipwrecks there and then. I still got stuck to playing my old games but not without a silent wish of, you know, what else.

Last September this year, he spearheaded another edition of the local version of the annual “Coastal Cleanup” done on the same period in 100 countries around the world. VistaMar, a popular diving resort in Anilao, Batangas, was the kick-off point and home to about 80 participants to this cleanup activity, representing a cross-section of private and public sector professionals. Here we gathered and planned and executed the two-day cleanup. Non-divers (referred to as “volunteers”) took a boat ride to a beach in Sitio Mainit ; the divers, to different dive sites. Their efforts covered about 6.5 miles of beaches in four different sites and buoyed up or turned in a total of 55 rubbish bags of trash and debris that weighed about 825 pounds (and, well, numerous digicam shots for posterity). The collected trash and debris were sorted and categorized and entered in data cards provided for the purpose. Consequently, information gathered will be analyzed and will be used in developing information materials to be used in educating the world’s population about the dangers posed to the aquatic life in the world’s oceans and seas by our , maybe, ignorance or sheer reckless nature. The center for this activity in this region (Asia-Pacific) is in New South Wales, Australia.

The coastal cleanup is sponsored by the local chapter of the international group PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) and is also the operationalized philosophy of Project AWARE (which stands for Aquatic Word Awareness Responsibility and Education) which is focused on conserving, preserving and enriching the world’s aquatic and marine life in seas and oceans. Project AWARE is also the funding arm of PADI for this particular program (the cleanup). The project is the fifth of its kind done by PADI here in the Philippines and its 20th anniversary worldwide. It draws huge calling and support from volunteers and divers who dive and pick both for fun and for their concern and love for one of nature’s most wonderful creations (some even had the word “SCUBASURERO” printed on their T-Shirts, meaning, a diver who collects trash).

When I look back at the experience, I cannot help but feel angry and sad for the vivid images I brought home: emerald green waters tarnished by floating plastic toys, cigaret butts, non-biodegradable food containers, cartons, wooden debris, and so much more! And on the beach, syringe and needles, cotton bud sticks, plastic caps, nylon ropes, broken glasses and china, softdrink cans, slippers and shoes…what I saw made the cleanup not even fit for the phrase “a drop in a bucket”. Of course there is no single wolf down there or on the beach, Virginia, but wolves are no match for what humans can do to their Mother Nature – the one and only lifeline that supports life down here (with due respect to Brother Sun and Sister Moon).

Anyway, the cleanup was a huge success and was capped nicely by a simple but fitting program in the evening that featured games like beer drinking with snorkels, relays with fins, dance and texting contests, video shows (highlighting the divers’ in action) and short messages from organizers and VistaMar’s owner and manager (VistaMar gave away gift certificates and gave much support that ensured the cleanup’s success). Friends, relatives, loved ones joined us that day and that made the affair also one big fellowship and acquaintance party. Of course I recall the guy from Sta. Fe in Argentina (Mr. Marcos Nunez ) and the lady ex-pat (Ms. Ruth Urry) who were there. They lent the cleanup an “international” color. Thank you guys.