Forgotten Shorelines

In this eye-opening video, join us as we highlight the dedicated efforts of community volunteers to clean up marine debris from the “forgotten shorelines” of the U.S. Virgin Islands: mangroves and offshore cays. These rarely-cleaned shorelines face a persistent and heartbreaking issue: marine debris. With funding support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Debris Program, the National Science Foundation and other partners, and leadership from the USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources and the University of the Virgin Islands, volunteers have removed over 16 tons of trash from these forgotten shorelines to date-most of which are plastic bottles that continue to litter these beautiful habitats, year after year.
You'll see firsthand how the collective power of volunteers makes a difference, tackling mountains of waste piece by piece. Their hard work reminds us that preserving our coastlines and marine ecosystems requires both teamwork and persistence. Together, we can help protect these delicate habitats and restore the natural beauty of our shorelines.
Let’s continue to support and amplify the impact of these cleanup efforts with the upstream choices we make daily about single-use plastic products -because our shorelines deserve a future free from plastic debris.
Filmed and edited by Dan Mele
#MarineDebris #PlasticPollution #USVirginIslands #ForgottenShorelines #MangroveCleanup #VolunteerEfforts