Oceans and beaches focus for World Environment Day

Oceans and beaches will be at the forefront of celebrations for World Environment Day on Friday June 5, but the occasion will be commemorated with a full slate of cleanup activities from Monday to Wednesday.

Environment officials said on Thursday that in order to attract as much public participation as possible, activities for World Environment Day, annually celebrated on June 5, will be pushed back to next week, coinciding with World Oceans Day on Tuesday June 8.

The committee chair for thematic environment celebrations, Jude Florentine, who is also the director for pollution control and environmental impacts in the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, said the additional activities planned would hopefully help the public realise the importance of keeping the country’s beaches clean.

Oceans are especially important for countries like Seychelles, as small island states depend almost entirely on the sea for their livelihoods, said Marine Parks Authority manager Nigel Hoareau.

Cleanup activities are scheduled for North Mahe on Monday, while beaches in Mahe’s South will take priority on Wednesday.

For Ocean Day itself on Tuesday, various organisations will be chipping in for cleanup operations at Anse Royale, Port Launay as well as Ste Anne Island and other areas.

The Seychelles Fishing Authority and the Coastguard will also be participating in an underwater cleanup at the Yacht Basin on Tuesday.

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