Regional Government marks International Coastal Cleanup Day - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Mar e das Pescas

The Regional Secretariat for the Sea and Fisheries, through the Regional Directorate for Maritime Policies (DRPM) will mark the International Coastal Cleanup Day on September 17.

As in previous years, the DRPM intends to involve all citizens, public and private entities, as well as Azorean civic organisations, in the issue of marine litter, a concern that is shared by ever more people around the world.

In this context, the Regional Government invites all public and private entities and the community to participate or organise coastal or underwater cleanup actions on their island, preferably on September 17 (or a date close by), so as to raise awareness about this issue.

This event is also in line with the goals of the Life IP Azores Natura and OceanLit (Interreg Mac) projects, of which the Regional Directorate of Maritime Policy is a beneficiary partner entity.

The DRPM will compile information on all cleanup actions organised in this context. The data collected will be used to meet the international reporting requirements of the Autonomous Region of the Azores under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR), also supporting the definition of international macro policies for marine litter. Therefore, the collection of this information will be of paramount importance.

With a view to improving the compatibility of the planned initiatives, the Regional Directorate for Maritime Policies suggests that the organisation of these actions be done in collaboration with this service. Interested entities should contact the DRPM by email at [email protected] to send information about the event (date, place and cleanup organiser).

For reporting litter collected in cleanup actions, interested parties may download the respective registration form and submit the information on the Regional Government marine litter portal: http://www.azores.gov.pt/Gra/Lixo+Marinho+-+DRAM.