“Since 1995 over 9000 litter collections have been organized by dozens of thousands of citizens in towns and on coastlines but also on riverbanks and seabeds. Through this socially responsible action, the objective is to raise awareness of the increasingly massive pollution of the oceans.” Cristina Barreau, expert in marine litter, reminds us.  

Everyone, whatever their age or region, can participate or organize a litter collection. To do this nothing is easier. All you need to do is visit initiativesoceanes.org to find the closest Ocean Initiative to your home or register your event and get all the material necessary to organize it from Surfrider. 

1398m3 of waste collected during the 2016's edition of the ocean initiatives

Ocean Initiatives participants do not just collect litter, but are also given the possibility of filling in a report form at the end of their collection. These files enable Surfrider Foundation Europe to draw up an annual environmental report showing the items of litter that are found most frequently, by seacoast. It is not surprising to learn that litter made up of plastic and cigarette stubs are the items found most often during collections.  

See all the figures from the environmental report.