The Maritime Port Authority of Singapore (MPA Singapore) in conjunction with the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore (ICCS), 120 volunteers and Mr Baey Yam Keng, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Culture, Community and Youth to remove debris from various locations around Singapore.
The project ‘Clean-Up on Kayak’ was launched in 2016 and has evolved through the years, including new and various partners and members to ensure a more holistic and comprehensive marine conservation programme.
The project is today known as ‘Marine Clean-Up Day’.
In 2019’s Maritime Clean-Up Day, the Public Hygiene Council loaned litter picking equipment from the cleanpods at East Coast Park, providing it to the 50 volunteers, who picked litter and micro-plastics at East Coast Beach for disposal.
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The MPA gathered approximately 240kg of marine debris, which were sorted and recorded for data research purposes.
In the meantime, 20 stand-up paddlers from the Surfing Association (Singapore) and 30 volunteer kayakers collected floating marine debris from the coastal waters. Also, 20 divers from Our Singapore Reefs removed marine debris around Lazarus Island. Members from the local fishing community also took part in the process, picking litter from the sea or the beach.
Mr Baey commented
The Marine Clean-Up Day is the first time MPA is working with so many like-minded groups of volunteers. I hope that through such efforts, more members of the public will be aware of the role they can play in protecting our environment.
Back in 2017, the MPA Singapore had supported the Maritime Clean-Up Day, along with various partners, in supporting a better and cleaner marine environment.
