On May 19, around 50 members of HUMAN IN LOVE (HIL) Emergency Rescue Team and voluntary group visited Jumunjin Port, Gangneung, Gangwon-do for ocean cleanup activities.
[Tires, fishing gear and pipes were collected from the sea]
Divers of HIL Emergency Rescue Team collected tires, fishing gear, pipes, blankets, vinyl and plastics from the ocean while on-ground rescue team members and volunteers were collecting ocean trash, nets and residential wastes. A total 2.5 tons of garbage was collected. HIL Emergency Rescue Team has engaged in disaster relief and recovery activities from home and abroad. To protect the environment, the team has been removing ocean garbage every year, which is hard to do on usual days.
What Impact Ocean Garbage Has on Our Life?
Before starting ocean cleanup activities, we invited Myeongseok Han from the marine environment management corporation of KOREA ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT COPORATION (KOEM) to learn more about the marine environment, pollution and especially the impact of ocean garbage
[Myeongseok Han from KOREA ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT COPORATION (KOEM) is giving a lecture]
It takes at least two to five years for ocean garbage like paper to decay, and it takes more than 500 years when it comes to aluminum can, styrofoam, plastic and fishing line. Every year, ocean garbage is taking the lives of 2 million sea birds and 100 thousand marine mammals, reducing biodiversity and disrupting the marine ecosystem. Microplastic particles that are flown into the ocean or broken down to tiny pieces are even found in planktons which are the most common prey of marine animals. Furthermore, humans are consuming microplastics in daily life through salt or seafood.
[(Left) Sea lion has a scar on its neck due to plastic band(Image From : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) /(Right) Plankton ate microplastics (green)(Image From : Verity White / Youtube)]
How to Reduce Ocean Trash
Ocean trash mostly comes from the land. Damaged structures or garbage that is thrown when there was heavy rain or typhoon are often carried away by the ocean. Small and light dumps are swept up by the wind and cast into the ocean through drain. Beachgoers recklessly throw garbage on the beach or from a cruise, and damaged fish farm or fishing gear are floating on the ocean, which are all becoming ocean garbage. Not only individuals but also policymakers should make efforts to reduce ocean waste. Most of all, we need to be more informed about ocean trash issues and realize its seriousness.
[Volunteers engaging in ocean cleanup campaign “Garbage that you throw comes back to you”]
We appreciate all of you who have engaged in and supported our ocean cleanup activities.
Our thanks goes to HIL Emergency Rescue Team and Volunteers, for their hard work, and to HIL supporters, and especially to Naver Happy Bean donators, Descente Korea for their donation. We’d also like to thank Gangneung Volunteer Center, Gangwon Social Service Center, for recruiting volunteers, the marine environment management corporation of Korea Environment Management Corporation, for giving a lecture, Gangneung Pyeongchang Branch of Korea Special Merit, for renting a place for activities and giving on-site support, Gangneung Suhyup, for providing a truck and disposing waste, andfor renting diving equipment.
