Marine Debris Cleanup

Ever since the devastating tsunami in 2011, in Japan, Sitka Wildlife Adventures has worked closely with Sitka Sound Science Center and local volunteers to clean local wilderness beaches. This is a monumental task...Sections of coastline that are more exposed to winds and seas tend to accumulate more debris and tend to re-accumulate debris at faster rates. Of course, highly exposed coastline is much more difficult to access than calm shores and inlets! By some accounts there will be more plastic than fish, in the seas, by 2050. Humans really have to change their behavior! This is an exciting day where you will be immersed in the Sitka waters. In addition to a narrated tour of Sitka and the surrounding area by a highly knowledgeable local guide, your work will support the local environment and ecosystem through impactful efforts to clean debris off the coastline. Begin the day on the boat. After a brief tour of Sitka and a full debrief by your guide, your work begins! It's hard to know what we will find on any given day, and that is part of the fun of it! We may spend our time on remote beaches cleaning up small debris and if you're lucky, we may encounter larger items like rubber tires, large fishnets, or even heavy equipment! While a hard day's work, this is truly a rewarding day; not only will you spend your time in Sitka reveling in the beautiful scenery away from the hustle and bustle of town, but you will also be contributing to essential volunteer work to keep our planet and our oceans clean. And who knows, you may find something valuable! One man's trash is another mans treasure! The work of removing debris is challenging, very physical and can be dangerous; for active groups only.