Blue Guards, a beach cleaning initiative led by young fishers, removed 12,068 kilograms of pollutants from sea beaches covering Cox's Bazar Sadar, Moheshkhali, Ramu, Teknaf, Ukhiya and Kuakata areas in 2021.
Blue Guards participated in the waste removal efforts on the sea beach and collected non-decomposable garbage including plastic bottles, polythene bags and sheets, food packets, single-use plastics, and discarded nets during March-December2021.
“Plastic pollutants remain in the sea for a long time, which have long-term harmful effects on fish and other animals. We’re collecting waste from coastline regularly to conserve ocean and fishes,” said Tarek, a Blue Guard activist of Rastarpara, Khurushkul in Cox's Bazar Sadar.
Like him, WorldFish Bangladesh engaged local young people, both men and women aged 18-35 from Cox’s Bazar and the Kuakata sea beach areas and in the Nijhum Dwip Marine Protected Area (MPA) under its USAID-funded ECOFISH II Activity.
Dr MA Wahab, Team Leader of ECOFISH II, said, “Ocean is the home of the most of the World’s biodiversity, and is the main source of protein for more than a billion people around the globe, but ocean pollution is reaching an alarming level day by day”
He said WorldFish has mobilized the Blue Guards to conserve marine biodiversity and optimise potential of the blue economy in Bangladesh.
“A significant number of people are involved in fishing in Bangladesh. Their lives and livelihoods depend on the ocean. Recognising the youth potential, ECOFISH II has involved young fishers as “Blue Guards” to keep the coastal waters clean,” Dr Wahab said.
So far, about 100 youths – 20 percent of them women -- are engaged as the Blue Guards and the number will be increased to 200 and the initiative will cover St. Martin’s Island as well in 2022.
The Blue Guards, after collecting plastics and discarded fishing nets from coastal waters and beaches, dispose of those materials through linking with the local plastic recycling system or storing them in a safer place.
In addition, they are voluntarily working with the EOCFISH II team in marine biodiversity conservation and developing awareness among the fishermen to sympathetically treat the megafauna, sharks, turtles, dolphin, porpoises and small whales if they are knotted in the fishing nets and carefully release them into the waters. The practice of releasing knotted turtles and dolphins gain popularity among artisanal fishing boat skippers.
The Blue Guards activists have received training from the ECOFISH II on various aspects of beach cleaning and marine biodiversity conservation, and got equipped with the necessary logistics including jersey, trouser, cap and shoes.
