The SeaSweep & SwampSweep Project
Because someone has to clean up the mess hurricanes Irma & Maria made to our critical coastal habitats.
The first ARK underwater clean-up.20 March 2018
After spending about 5 hours in the water and pulling out galvanised roofing material, lumber, piping, plastics, bottles and even an unopened bottle of wine - we quickly learned cleaning up the seabed will be quite the on-going challenge.
But we will always be up for a challenge and so begins the "SeaSweep" project. |
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Special thanks to
Joel Dore (BVI Conservation & Fisheries Dept) & Shelby Gillis (Sail Caribbean Divers) |
SeaSweep #1
27 May 2018
Clearing debris from the seabed throughout the Territory may take years
but we have started our efforts in Cane Garden Bay.
With about 50 volunteers made of divers, SUPs and shore support, we managed to pull out a roof, a small boat and filled a large dumpster with debris. And this is only the beginning...
but we have started our efforts in Cane Garden Bay.
With about 50 volunteers made of divers, SUPs and shore support, we managed to pull out a roof, a small boat and filled a large dumpster with debris. And this is only the beginning...
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Frank Lervik has been coming down to the BVI since the hurricanes and he managed to sneak in
and capture this video of our first SeaSweep!
(Thanks Frank!!)
and capture this video of our first SeaSweep!
(Thanks Frank!!)
Special thanks to Kimberly Cooke Leigh & David Mathews as well as our sponsors for this event:
Proudly African
P3
Blue Water Divers
Sail Caribbean
Proudly African
P3
Blue Water Divers
Sail Caribbean
Since we are cleaning up the seabed, we may as well clean up the wetlands.
And so the 'SwampSweep' project begins...
And so the 'SwampSweep' project begins...
SwampSweep #1
2 June 2018
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Southern end of Cane Garden Bay
District Representative , the Honourable Melvin "Mitch" Turnbull and the CGB community joined us to help clear debris blocking the ghut on our first "SwampSweep".
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With the success of our first SeaSweep & SwampSweep, along with a few "lessons learned", we were ready for SeaSweep #2.
But we never imagined this.... |
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SeaSweep #2
Military Style
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30 June 2018A last minute email from the Governor's Office about an unofficial
RFA Mounts Bay visit, a few frantic calls to ActionQuest for divers, enormous support from local businesses and the community resulted in the most EPIC SeaSweep & SwampSweep to date!!! |
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This would have never happened if it weren't for the men & women from RFA Mounts Bay & ActionQuest
THANK YOU!!!!!!
THANK YOU!!!!!!
A special THANK YOU to our sponsors:
Myett's Garden & Grill
Quito's Gazebo
BVISUPCo
Horizon Yacht Charters
Caribbean Cellars
P3
Myett's Garden & Grill
Quito's Gazebo
BVISUPCo
Horizon Yacht Charters
Caribbean Cellars
P3
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And then this happened at the same time.
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SwampSweep #2
Military Style
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30 June 2018
Cannon Pt. & Garden Ghut Wetlands,
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With 50 volunteers from RFA Mounts Bay, 50 divers from ActionQuest, ARK divers and a number of other community volunteers, we managed to triple the amount of debris we collected from the first SeaSweep & SwampSweep collectively, and over-filled four large dumpsters!