Media Contact:Sinead McCoy
Email: smccoy@eeu.antaisce.org
Phone: 087 1347950// 01 4002210
Clean Coasts Ocean Talks and Ocean Hero 2018
The Clean Coasts programme was delighted to host Ocean Talks with our Ocean Hero Awards on in Clayton Hotel, Co. Cork.
The presence of marine litter in our oceans is a global concern that requires action. Adequate measures are needed to address the impacts of litter in the marine environment both at sea and on land whereby public awareness and community action plays a vital role. The Clean Coasts Ocean Talks and Ocean Hero Awards will bring together key stakeholders in the area of marine litter such as coastal communities, NGOs, tourism bodies, the science community, business and the fishing industry.
Ocean Talks speakers included, Minister of State Damien English, Ken O Sullivan, creator of Deep Atlantic (RTE), Sinead McCoy, Coastal Communities Manager with the Environmental Education Unit, An Taisce and Annabel Fitzgerald, Irish Water.
This year Clean Coasts’ Ocean Hero Awards are celebrating eleven years of honouring the invaluable contribution Ireland’s coastal communities have made towards conserving our spectacular coastline. The awards, originally known as the ‘Merit Awards’, were conceived in 2006, consisting then of only one category, ‘The Clean Coasts’ Group of the Year’. Since then the Clean Coasts’ programme has grown to engage over 700 Clean Coasts groups, becoming embedded in many coastal communities nationwide. In an effort to recognise this growth the number of Ocean Hero categories have also expanded to include, Individual of the Year, Beach Clean of the Year, School of the Year and Business of the Year.
Sinead McCoy, Coastal Communities Manager with An Taisce’s Environmental Education Unit said “Over the past 12 years the Clean Coasts programme’s Ocean Hero Awards have really brought to the fore the remarkable work and wonderful coastal celebration events that Clean Coasts volunteers have been involved in along the Irish coastline. We hope this year is no different as we look forward to receiving inspirational nominations that show the true dedication of these coastal custodians.”
The Clean Coasts Ocean Hero Award Winners 2018 are as follows:
- Keep Our Beaches Clean, Mayo: Ocean Hero Award – Group of the Year
- Sean Ferguson: Ocean Hero Award – Individual of the Year
- St Colman’s Community College, Cork: Ocean Hero Award School of the Year
- Dive Academy, Wexford: Ocean Hero Award – Business of the Year
- Havin’ a Laugh: Ocean Hero Award – Beach Clean of the Year
- Galway Altanticquium: Ocean Hero Award – Think Before You Flush Campaign
For more information on any of the above winners please see the attached Ocean Talks and Ocean Hero notes or contact Clean Coasts for more information.
Clean Coasts is operated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce and is funded by the Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government and Fáilte Ireland.
Ends/
About Clean Coasts
Clean Coasts engages communities in the protection of Ireland’s beaches, seas and marine life. The programme is operated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce and is currently funded by the Department of the Housing, Planning & Local Government and Fáilte Ireland.
Clean Coasts has grown over the years and now includes two main national clean-up drives – Coca-Cola Clean Coasts Week and the Big Beach Clean. Our volunteering has expanded to include Corporate Volunteering and the Ocean Hero Awards also. Other aspects include the Green Coast Award, the Love Your Coast Photography competition, the Clean Coasts Roadshow for coastal communities and we are continuing to grow the Clean Coasts programme with the likes of Ocean Talks. The programme also operate several campaigns in Ireland including Think Before You Flush and international campaigns #2minutebeachclean and Beat the Microbead. The Clean Coasts volunteering effort engages communities in the protection and conservation of their local coastal environment. There are currently over 700 registered Clean Coasts groups. There are a variety of group types such as community groups, residents associations, tidy towns groups, sports clubs, schools, businesses, universities etc. Clean Coasts organises hundreds of beach clean-ups annually mobilising thousands of volunteers, removing considerable quantities of marine litter from Ireland’s beaches and waterway. http://www.cleancoastsireland.org/