FRIENDS of the San Juans

beach and marine refuse removal

Pollution of our oceans by marine debris is one of the fastest growing environmental problems. Fishing nets and six-pack holders entrap fish and other marine creatures, animals and birds mistake trash for food and choke on the plastic and paper, and floating garbage fouls our beaches. To help clean up local beaches and waters, FRIENDS of the San Juans initiated the Marine Clean-Up Project in 2002.

Original project manager Nick Nash has removed huge amounts of floating debris directly from our waters. Spring beach cleanups have also been performed for three years on Lopez, San Juan, Shaw, Orcas, Stuart, and Waldron Islands with the help of community groups such as the San Juan Lions Club, the Orcas Christian School, Shaw 4-H, Waldron School, San Juan Dog 4-H, and numerous individuals. These volunteers both clean our beaches and collect valuable data about what type of trash they find.

Marine Refuse Removal Project

FRIENDS' Marine Refuse Project is the inspiration of long-time island resident Nick Nash, whose family has lived in the San Juans since the 1800s. Horrified by the amount of drifting debris in our once pristine waters, Nick conceived the Marine Refuse Project. FRIENDS eagerly joined with Nick to help fund the effort, and hundreds of pounds of garbage have already been removed from the San Juan Islands' beaches and waters.

Within the first days of the project's starting in June 2002, 450 pounds of debris had been collected from the waters and along the shoreline at the south end of San Juan Island. The trash included derelict dock floats, a floating freezer, electrical wiring, fishing nets and line, PVC pipe, bottles, food containers, and plastic toys. Since then, hundreds more pounds of debris have been removed.

The project is being funded in part by its lead sponsor, the Swinomish Tribe, many of whose members depend on fishing for their livelihoods.

The San Juan County Marine Refuse Project uses our annual beach cleanups to help identify large or potentially hazardous items for pickup by the Marine Refuse Project.

Please contact FRIENDS if you know of a large floating or beached object that needs to be removed from our county.

FRIENDS Annual Beach Cleanups

Every fall and spring FRIENDS manages beach cleanup efforts. Through the dedicated efforts of volunteers, tons of garbage has been removed from our island beaches and data on the kinds and amounts of marine refuse found has been compiled. FRIENDS would not be able to conduct simultaneous county-wide monitoring and cleanup efforts without participation from our dedicated community members! Call FRIENDS to adopt a beach site, arrange a group beach clean up or find out how to join a group clean up effort for the Spring Beach Cleanups and surveys.

ADOPT A BEACH! FRIENDS can mail you Cleanup Data Cards or you can download the Beach Cleanup Data Forms by clicking here. Coastal Cleanup Data Card

What you can do to reduce marine debris:

Reduce your packaging.

Reduce toxicity by recycling batteries and automotive parts.

Choose reusable products like washable utensils, tableware and napkins.

Use and reuse durable products.

Buy products made from recycled materials.

Compost vegetable matter.

Mission
To protect the land, water, sea and livability of the San Juan Islands through science, education, policy, law and citizen action.

PO Box 1344, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
Phone: (360) 378-2319, Fax: (360) 378-2324