Regarding the Harbor Cleanup...I thought was a little strange...

[wall2wallanimals]

Okay...This was my 13th Harbor Cleanup. This year I was confused...

Every year, we pickup tons of trash off the bottom of the harbor, thats the point of the cleanup...hence the name.

THIS year I noticed that while my buddy and I (and many others) came up with the maximum amount of trash that our bags and bodies could hold, others came up with only a couple of items...and some none at all!!!

I know that those people paid the dues to dive the harbor and should be given slack because they DID raise money for the Chamber and Conservancy by paying dues, but the main cause for the cleanup was TO CLEAN THE HARBOR.

Visibility could NOT be the factor as we had 40+ foot vis.

The lack of trash could not be an issue because after we filled our bags and hands...and emptied our tanks, we swam over more trash at all different depths.

Could someone please explain what made this year any different than years past?

Thanks,

Kirstin

 

[drbill]

Kirstin... I actually was surprised at the lack of trash I saw. I went "deep" (out to the 60 ft limit) and worked my way back to shore and didn't really see much trash. Perhaps you and John were trysting in some very trashy area of the Bay!! Just teasing ya.

One thing that could be an alternate explanation is that I saw a lot of fairly new divers out there (based on the amount of arm movement and trouble with bouyancy control). They might not have their skills down well enough to be effective trash collectors (although they are very welcome participants!).

 

[kelpmermaid]

I can verify that there was quite a bit of trash at Green Pier as I helped move it into the dumpsters myself (yuck!). As with an Easter egg hunt, it could be that some people were just looking in the wrong places. What was the saying... "Every litter bit counts?"

I also note that there haven't been many storms this winter to stir things up, but that may change today. W2W, thanks for coming and "taking out the trash."

 

[wall2wallanimals]

Those are good explanations...I too was at Green Pier...and compared to past years... it still didn't seem to get close to the past...

I am not complaining...I was puzzled. Everyone that contributes money to the Conservancy has helped. I just know that we had over 550 people (554) and it didn't seem like alot of trash this year.

You are right though, every little bit helps.

K

 

[MissyP]

Those are good explanations...I too was at Green Pier...and compared to past years... it still didn't seem to get close to the past...

K

I think all of us were at Green Pier, lol.. Besides the tire, I didn't see much trash out there- lots of plastic utensils, golf balls, a jar, cans, string, paper, and that's about it... I didn't get lucky enough to find those plates from Antonio's that were for free food

 

[Cacia]

Remember too, that as environmental causes become more trendy there will be more posers. and you are in SoCal....kidding!

Some people just pay the money and come as a social event---The Conservancy has always had it's share of the high society crowd....look at the New years bash they have at the casino on Catalina, its a couple hundred dollars, right Bill?

 

[drbill]

Remember too, that as environmental causes become more trendy there will be more posers. and you are in SoCal....kidding!

Some people just pay the money and come as a social event---The Conservancy has always had it's share of the high society crowd....look at the New years bash they have at the casino on Catalina, its a couple hundred dollars, right Bill?

Shame on you Catherine... as a former "poser" yourself (and I originally thought you had said poster).

I do feel ther was less trash this year and I view that as a good sign. However, after today's storm maybe I should try diving the harbor again to look for Lisa Marie Presley's ring from Nicholas Cage.

Catherine, the New Year's dance is a Visitor's Bureau thing. The Conservancy dance is in March this year. Yes, it is a high ticket event... I only attended when I was V.P. of the Conservancy and they covered my ticket and tux. However I will, on occasion, wear my wetsuit with a bow tie!

 

[PhotoTJ]

I dove step beach, and while there was plenty of trash, I don't think there was nearly as much as last year, or the year before.

Hopefully, this is indicative of two things; more divers participating=less trash to go around, and more awareness on boaters part not to throw their trash overboard.