HAIDA GWAII – New Democrat MLA Jennifer Rice says new coastline clean up projects are now underway, thanks to more funding from the BC New Democrat government for the Clean Coast, Clean Waters initiative.
“Our coastlines are not only incredibly important to our community members, but also crucial for biodiversity,” says Jennifer Rice, MLA for North Coast. “This project will restore and maintain our coast while creating meaningful jobs for people.”
The North Coast will benefit from $1.27 million in funding towards the Haida Gwaii Marine Debris Removal Initiative; a project lead by K’yuu Enterprise Corp to clean 47 km of shoreline in West Graham, Northwest Moresby, Southwest Moresby, Kunghit, and East Beach. The project has projected the creation of 54 new jobs and K’yuu is working with the Council of the Haida Nation and engaging with over 15 locally-owned companies.
The Clean Coast, Clean Waters (CCCW) initiative partners with organizations to clean up the province’s coastline. This year, eight projects were selected that are expected to clean over 1,400 kilometres of shoreline, and remove at least 70 derelict vessels, creating 630 new jobs in the process.
The Clean Coast, Clean Waters initiative is an important part of the CleanBC Plastics Action Plan to reduce plastic waste and pollution in our environment.
Up to the end of 2022, the Clean Coast, Clean Waters Initiative had:
- Removed more than 1,500 tonnes of debris, including 118 derelict vessels;
- Achieved a 64% recycling/upcycling rate for shoreline cleanup projects;
- Cleaned over 4,600 kilometres of shoreline
- Created over 1,700 well-paying jobs.
Learn More: https://news.gov.bc.ca/29910
For more information on the fund: https://www.bccleancoast.ca