Portmuck Beach/Underwater Clean Up

[Tricia00]

Hi Folks,

I commented on this forum some time back on the litter thread, so hope you don't mind me raising this issue again.

TIDY Northern Ireland are running a Clean Coast Week from Saturday 21st July - Sunday 29th July and this week calls out to volunteers to clean up our loughs, rivers and coastline to highlight how fragile our waterways are. On Sunday 22nd July we'll be running an underwater/beach clean on Portmuck Beach, Islandmagee from 10am - 2pm. We're calling out to volunteers to come along and help out for a while either doing a beach clean, or for any qualified divers to help out underwater. Steve Collins from DIVE NI will have some net bags for underwater rubbish and we'll have litter pickers, gloves and bags for the beach clean.

We're not expecting to find too much as it's a small beach, but from previous clean ups, we've found a lot of fishing line, hooks, etc along the strandline, but this will be the first underwater clean up as well. I've a photographer booked for 12pm and I have heard from the Environment Journalist of the Belfast Telegraph, that she is keen to run a story on this.

I am inviting anglers to this clean up and have your voice heard about the issue of marine litter. Also it would be great to help wade in an take the bags of rubbish off the divers if possible or help out with the beach clean. There will be a photographer attending around 12pm and Coca-Cola staff will be there to hand out refreshments to volunteers as a small thank you. Please note all under 18 year olds must be supervised by a parent/guardian and you must dress appropriately for outdoor weather.


Like I said we have never done this type of clean up before, but hope it's something we can do on a bigger scale in future and you all are more than welcome down. Steve Collins, Dive NI can be called on 07759220666 regarding the diving. My name is Tricia and I can be called on 07850880249 if you need any info.

Hope to see some of you there!
Tricia