The Santa Monica Bay Restoration Foundation (SMBRF) will host its Kayak Cleanup Day Event today from 9 am to noon.
The event is part of the greater annual Coastal Cleanup Day (CCD) which draws more than 14,000 volunteers from across Los Angeles County to hundreds of events.
As the only kayak cleanup site, the SMBRF event is hugely popular each year and books up early.
The SMBRF has already committed all its donated kayaks and stand-up-paddle (SUP) boards (approximately 72) to early sign-ups, but encourages all eager volunteers to come and participate with their own (or rented) kayak, SUP board, or boat.
SMBRF will provide small nets for volunteers to pick up trash from the ocean.
Last year, the SMBRF kayak event drew 160 volunteers and collected 158 pounds of trash and 33 pounds of recyclables.
The goal of SMBRF’s kayak clean-up is to change people’s behavior and habits so that they will recycle more, use less plastic (i.e. zero waste lunches, packaging, etc.), and help protect the benefits and values of Santa Monica Bay and our coastal ocean.
Coastal Cleanup Day is an international event with over 90 countries around the world participating, making it one of the largest volunteer efforts on the planet. It began 1985 as a way to combat the increasing marine debris along our shorelines.
California Coastal Cleanup Day is coordinated in Los Angeles County by Heal the Bay in conjunction with the California Coastal Commission (statewide) and the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches & Harbors.
SMBRF event sponsors include Pacific Mariners Yacht Club, UCLA Marina Aquatic Center, REI, Marina Harbor Anchorage, and Pro SUP Shop Marina del Rey Outrigger and Canoe Club will be providing land-based volunteers.
The post-event celebration at the Pacific Mariners Yacht Club will feature lunch donated by Chipotle — an SMBRF certified Clean Bay Restaurant — and raffle prizes provided by Arbor Collective, Cheesecake Factory, The Counter Burger, and REI.
For more information, visit www.santamonicabay.org.
