Annually, the Coastal Protection Unit of the Ministry of Works and Transport joins the global community in the observance of International Coastal Clean Up Day which is held in September.
This day is observed by thousands of volunteers who gather at beaches to clean the shores of plastics and other harmful items to protect the environment. The day is also used to raise awareness and empower persons to adopt an active role in preserving and cleaning the ocean.
As a small island state, our coastlines are indeed important and need protection and maintenance. As such, the Coastal Protection Unit’s will be joining Bermudez to conduct a beach clean-up exercise in keeping with the theme, ‘Preventing Plastic Pollution and Encouraging Solutions for a Healthy Ocean’.
This initiative is highlighted on the Calendar of events for the Coastal Protection Unit since its establishment to the Ministry in 2011 and serves to support the Unit’s mandate, which is, the preservation and rehabilitation of coastlines. In 2016, the Coastal Protection Unit also collaborated with the Caribbean Youth Environment Network to commemorate World Oceans Day by means of a Beach Clean Up Exercise.
Within the Coastal Protection Unit, a Coastal Protection Programme has been formulated to address the most crucial aspects of coastal erosion, instability, and flooding incidents along the coastline of Trinidad. Another key service provided by the Coastal Protection Unit is the maintenance of Sea Defences.
Some more of the core activities of the Coastal Protection Unit are to:
Prevent coastal erosion
Design and Construct Hydraulic and Coastal Structures
Develop and implement policies, plans, standards, regulations, rules and requirements for the prevention of coastal erosion
Maintain sea defences
The Ministry of Works and Transport is appealing to all beach users and ocean lovers to adopt practical efforts to help prevent the plastic pollution!
For more information on the Coastal Protection Unit, click this link