Provincial Government Assistance Helps Clean Harbours Initiative Expand Capacity

  • Municipal and Provincial Affairs
  • Environment and Climate Change

July 27, 2022

The Honourable Krista Lynn Howell, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, today announced $20,000 to support Clean Harbours Initiative, through ACAP Humber Arm, to complete the retrofitting of the organization’s boat to help with underwater marine debris clean-up throughout the province.

Established in 2018, Clean Harbours Initiative has been raising awareness and taking action to address the issue of ocean trash. In just four years, the initiative has resulted in the removal of approximately 200,000 pounds of ocean trash, including just over 3,000 car tires and over 35 ghost nets.

To expand this work, Clean Harbours Initiative is retrofitting and converting its boat to be able to increase the amount of trash collected per day by approximately 33 per cent. Through funding provided by the Provincial Government, this retrofit is now complete.

Quotes
“The work of Clean Harbours Initiative is incredibly important, not just from an environmental perspective, but to support efforts to build vibrant, sustainable communities throughout the province. The remarkable work and success to date in removing trash from harbours is helping to create communities where people want to live, work and raise a family.”
Honourable Krista Lynn Howell
Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs

“I commend Clean Harbours Initiative for their efforts to reduce plastic waste in the province and protect the environment for future generations. This funding will assist in the important work that the volunteer group is doing for our province to reduce waste in our harbours.”
Honourable Bernard Davis
Minister of Environment and Climate Change

“On behalf of Clean Harbours Initiative we would like to thank the Provincial Government and ACAP Humber Arm for once again working together to help us to acquire another essential piece of equipment needed to increase the amount of ocean trash we are able to recover.”
Shawn Bath
Founder, Clean Harbours Initiative

“With potential leaching of chemicals and toxins, destruction of habitat, ingestion and entanglement, subsurface marine debris poses serious detrimental threats to our coastal environments and marine life. We are pleased to see the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador recognize that this is a not an out-of-sight, out-of-mind issue, and support the work of ACAP Humber Arm, Clean Harbour Initiative, and other like minded organizations as we attempt to restore our near shore coastal environments and educate to prevent re-accumulation of subsurface marine debris.”
Sheldon Peddle
Executive Director, ACAP – Humber Arm

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Media contacts
Lynn Robinson
Municipal and Provincial Affairs
Environment and Climate Change
709-729-5449, 691-9466
lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca

Shawn Bath
Clean Harbours Initiative
709-683-7683
cleanharboursNL@hotmail.com

Sheldon Peddle
ACAP – Humber Arm
709-637-4222
speddle@acaphumberarm.com

2022 07 27 11:40 am