Caribbean Ecotourism Activities: Volunteer for Beach Clean Up
There is absolutely no doubt that the Caribbean beaches are gorgeous. Most travelers book their Caribbean vacations with the expectation of pristine beachfront, clear, warm turquoise seas, and vibrant marine life.
Unfortunately, that is not the reality of things as plastic and rubbish from land pollution around the world wash up ashore on these beautiful beaches and destroy the natural marine habitats. To get rid of them some ecotourism activities in the Caribbean were most needed.
Thankfully, there are volunteer and government-subsidized groups that are working to preserve Caribbean beaches and marine life through ocean and beach clean-ups, and they are happy to have you on board to help with this movement.
We are pleased to share and recommend these organizations to you to sign up and join in the effort to keep the beaches of your favorite destination looking amazing for your future visits.
Finding the right organization truly depends on your chosen destination and a bit of research. Each island/territory has local and international organizations dedicated to cleaning up the surrounding oceans and beachfront.
All The Caribbean Ecotourism Activities You Should Know About
Local Accommodations
Most hotels occupying a part of the sandy shore will do their part in keeping the beach and sea as clean as possible with a dedicated team of staff and sometimes guests who wish to contribute time to the activity.
Take the extra step of contacting your accommodation provider before you check in to find out their mission in keeping the surroundings clean and if they are open to you helping with their marine cleanups. You also have the option to speak to a travel advisor to assist you with getting information from the hotel staff.
Local Clean-Up Organizations
Most Caribbean destinations have their own active environmental conservation group that focuses on cleaning up the shore and surrounding sea. A few such organizations include Debris Free Bonaire – Bonaire is one of the ABC islands rated as one of the world's top diving locations because of the coral reefs and diversity in marine life.
The Debris Free Bonaire group was started by divers who recognized that the plastic waste in the ocean was destroying marine habitats. To date, volunteers which include divers and onshore cleanups have collected thousands of cubic feet of trash. The group’s website is currently accepting volunteers.
The Eastern Caribbean Islands (Montserrat, St. Kitts, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines, and Grenada) each have a National Trust that oversees the maintenance of historical sites and beaches through various activities. The National Trusts are autonomous governing bodies with the goal of preserving local and historical areas by putting protective legislation into effect. You can contact the National Trust for these islands through their websites and volunteer.
Jamaica has a similar organization called the Jamaica Environmental Trust. Barbados has the Future Centre Trust and Dominican Republic has the PADI organization. Saint Maarten’s Nature Foundation is known for beach clean-ups inclusive of tourists and volunteers. In Trinidad and Tobago, the Ministry of Planning and Development leads the beach clean-up activities.
International Coastal Clean-up Day
Cleaning Beaches
If you want to participate in ocean cleanup events as part of your contribution to Caribbean ecotourism, this is a perfect day to schedule your trip around. International Coastal Clean-up Day is observed between the 17th and 25th of September annually.
In the Caribbean, the government agencies in charge of tourism and/or environmental health take the lead in commemorating this day by enlisting the assistance of volunteers, local organizations, and companies to aid with a thorough cleanup of the shoreline. For further details on how to join, you can contact the tourism website of your selected destination.
Final Words
In conclusion, the Caribbean beaches and oceans are in need of our help to preserve their natural beauty for future generations to enjoy. There are several ways to get involved, from contacting local hotels and accommodations to find out about their environmental initiatives to joining local and international organizations that focus on cleaning up the shore and surrounding sea.
