Haawa | Haw’aa | Thank You to all who participated and supported the 2020/2021/2022 Marine Debris Clean-Up Initiatives!
The Project is now closed.
Brief Overview:
Despite a short timeline and significant winter weather challenges, the Haida Gwaii Marine Debris Removal Initiative was able to achieve the following significant outcomes:
- Over 86,000 kg (190,000 lbs) of debris cleaned off Haida Gwaii’s beaches
o 73% of debris collected diverted from landfills and sent to specialized recycling facilities
- Approx. 360km of shoreline cleaned in each general region of the islands. Sheltered beaches and road/beach access areas were targeted during unpleasant weather; while remote high debris accumulation areas such as Flamingo Inlet, Hippa Island and T’aalan Stl’ang (Lepas Bay) were targeted during weather windows.
- Nearly all of the west coast of Graham Island surveyed for debris density to better direct future efforts and further understand debris hotspots.
- Over 144 people employed and 41 businesses involved.
o 13 local clean-up operators where contracted for services, along with many other local businesses to support in transportation, equipment/space rental, accommodation, catering, etc.
- Approx. 2000 cumulative days worked, with over half worked by youth (16-29)
- Approx. 80% of the funding ($1.85million) stayed local through direct local employment, contractors, businesses, etc.
- 20 youth provided free training and certification for entry level work in marine tourism and transportation industries (SVOP, ROC-M, MED-A3, First Aid)
- Significant capacity building on island in marine debris removal and related services (marine contracting, transportation, fieldwork, etc.)
Partners in the Marine Debris Initiative include:
Council of the Haida Nation
X̱aayda Gwaay.yaay Tang.G̱wan Tll Skunx̱a HlG̱ang.gulx̱a X̱aaydaG̱aay (Haida Gwaii Clean Oceans Working Group)
Misty Isles Economic Development Society