Coastal Restoration Society (CRS) and Surfrider Pacific Rim are celebrating today after being named funding recipients from the Clean Coast, Clean Water Initiative; a project to clear B.C shores of marine debris and derelict vessels. The non-profits will be leading  shoreline clean-up and derelict vessel removal projects in the territories of the Tla-o-qui-aht, Hesquiaht, Ahousaht, Tseshaht and Ucluelet First Nation with sorting and transportation running through the Alberni Clayoquot Regional District, and the municipalities of Tofino and Ucluelet. Thanks to today’s funding announcement from the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, projects are on track to begin this summer. 

The “West Coast Vancouver Island Coastal Improvement Project - Phase 1” overseen by Coastal Restoration Society focuses on creating job opportunities in rural and remote areas, fostering partnerships between First Nations, nonprofits, volunteer associations, industry and local governments. Historically, these groups and other concerned citizens and environmental stewards have been volunteering their time and energy to clean BC coastlines. The Clean Coast, Clean Waters Initiative funding provides paid opportunities for these groups to plan and engage in the removal of heavily accumulated debris from industry, ocean tides, tourism and derelict vessels, with the goal of diverting as much away from landfills and into second life as possible. 

Surfrider, CRS, and the Tla-o-qui-aht, Hesquiaht, Ahousaht, Tseshaht and Ucluelet First Nations have partnered in their pursuit of funding from the CCCW Funding initiative, and are excited about the prospect of both cleaner beaches and jobs coming to the area. 

On behalf of the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government – Ucluelet First Nation, President Charles McCarthy  said, “We look forward to working with the Coastal Restoration Society and Surfrider Pacific Rim, for the partnered removal of marine debris and providing environmental opportunities for the citizens of Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ, and for our neighbouring nations. The marine ecosystem is a vital source for our culture, sustains our livelihood, and home. Kelco, kleco.”

“Shoreline cleanup is a cornerstone of Surfrider's work for the protection and enjoyment of the ocean, waves, and beaches, for all people,” Surfrider’s Beach Clean and Youth Program Coordinator Alys Hoyland shared. “We could not be more thrilled to work alongside our First Nations partners to remove debris, collect data on key pollutants, and use this data to inform our efforts to find upstream solutions to the plastic pollution crisis.” 

Coastal Restoration Society is administering the complete $2.2M West Coast Vancouver Island Coastal Improvement Project as well as completing derelict vessel removals in Ucluelet First Nations territory. 

“We are grateful for the funding to move forward on these timely and necessary projects to support the health of the shorelines and coastal livelihoods,” Capt Josh Temple, Executive Director of Coastal Restoration Society shared. “We’re excited to once again be working with host First Nations, and we know that these relationships and partnerships are at the heart of all successful projects. We hope that funding like this for projects of this scope expands our collective capacity for stewardship.”

Clean-ups will commence in May, and continue until the end of October. Marine debris sorting is anticipated to take place at the Ocean Legacy Recycling Centre from July to October.

For additional media inquiries please contact: 

Surfrider Pacific Rim

Alys Hoyland

ahoyland@pacificrim.surfrider.org

Coastal Restoration Society -  

Andrea McQuade

andrea@coastrestore.com  

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation

Julian Grant

alliedcertifications@pm.me

Ahousaht First Nation

Daniel O’Farrel

stewardshipbiologist@mhssahousaht.ca

Tseshaht First Nation

Dave Rolston

DRolston@tseshaht.com 

Ucluelet First Nation

President Charles McCarthy 

Charles.McCarthy@ufn.ca