We join the world in marking International Coastal Cleanup Day by celebrating a new partnership in sustainable waste management and environmental protection efforts.
BCSS Marine Debris Program – weekly waste collection. (BCSS)
In June of this year, BCSS proudly signed a new 2-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sustainable Seas Trust (SST), an Africa-based, science-driven organization dedicated to protecting ocean environments and supporting local communities through sustainable waste management initiatives. SST focuses on education, research, and partnerships, aiming to reduce marine pollution by integrating waste management into value chains.
Marine debris found on Benguerra Island during BCSS weekly waste collection. (BCSS)
BCSS will support SST’s scientific approach to tackling the plastic pollution crisis by providing marine waste data meticulously collected in a time series around multiple coastal areas of Benguerra Island. The diverse marine ecosystems monitored by BCSS are among the most valuable, vulnerable, and complex natural systems in Mozambican waters, and they are increasingly threatened by plastic pollution. This pollution places additional stress on both these ecosystems and the wildlife inhabiting them.
The BCSS Marine Debris Monitoring program explores the connections between pollution and socioeconomic factors, and integrates environmental components, such as weather and ocean-related parameters. By combining these factors with marine debris data, we aim to deepen our understanding of the issue and contribute to developing more effective solutions.
BCSS interns and students during weekly waste collection. (BCSS)
Plastic pollution in the seas is a global problem that requires the engagement of multiple stakeholders and must be addressed on various levels. With a focus on supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, BCSS and SST have been central to these efforts, leading to the establishment of this important collaboration.
We are delighted to collaborate with SST and look forward to the positive impact this partnership will bring.
About the Sustainable Seas Trust
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For questions about this article, please contact:
Dr. Mario Lebrato, Bazaruto Archipelago – Ocean Observatory Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies (BCSS)
mario.lebrato@bcssmz.org
