BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer
Clean Ocean Action’s 19th annual Fall Beach Sweeps Oct. 23 from 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. LONG BRANCH — Volunteers for Clean Ocean Action will make a difference for the environment on “Make a Difference Day.”
From 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 23, Clean Ocean Action’s 19th annual Fall Beach Sweeps will take place — rain or shine — at nearly 50 sites statewide in Monmouth, Middlesex, Ocean, Atlantic and Cape May counties.
“The Beach Sweeps are an excellent opportunity to take responsibility for keeping communities clean, help the environment and enjoy a day at the beach with hundreds of fellow ocean enthusiasts,” said Kari Jermansen, Clean Ocean Action’s outreach director.
The Beach Sweeps educate citizens about nonpoint source pollution, which is the leading cause of poor water quality in New Jersey, according to Clean Ocean Action.
During the sweeps, volunteers collect data and Clean Ocean Action uses the data to track information about marine debris off the Jersey Shore. The results are then forwarded to the Ocean Conservancy for its international database on marine debris.
This year, volunteers for Beach Sweeps will meet at the following locations:
Highlands, on Central Avenue next to the community center; Loch Arbour/Allenhurst, on Euclid Avenue at the beach; Long Branch, at Rooney’s Ocean Crab House on Cooper Avenue; Sandy Hook, at parking lot E; and at three sites in Sea Bright: Anchorage/Ferguson parking lots, the public beach and at Merri-makers at Waters Edge.
People of all ages are invited to join in the event. Clean Ocean Action said hundreds of volunteers are expected this year.
Those interested in participating should bring gloves, dress for the weather, wear sunscreen and wear hard-soled shoes.
Groups of 15 or more must preregister by contacting Clean Ocean Action one week in advance at (732) 872-0111. For a list of sweeps sites, visit www.cleanoceanaction.org.
“The thousands of people who volunteer at the sweeps help focus attention on the need for enforcement of laws and education of citizens about this pollution problem,” said Cindy Zipf, executive director of Clean Ocean Action. “The data from 19 years of Beach Sweeps shows that beach litter remains a problem. It is not only unsightly but also deadly to marine life. One of Clean Ocean Action’s goals is to reduce sources of litter to ultimately bring an end to the need for Beach Sweeps.”
Monmouth County:
Atlantic Highlands -— Harbor Gravel parking lot
Highlands — Central Avenue next to Community Center
Loch Arbour/Allenhurst — Euclid Avenue at the beach
Long Branch -— Cooper Avenue at Rooney’s Ocean Crab House
Middletown -— East Keansburg- Ideal Beach at Ocean Avenue & Bayside Parkway;
Leonardo- public beach; Port Monmouth- Fishing Pier Beach at Bayshore Waterfront Park
Monmouth Beach — bathing pavilion and public access points
Sandy Hook— Parking Lot E
Sea Bright — Anchorage/Ferguson beach parking lot (just north of Rumson/
Sea Bright Bridge); public beach; Merri-Makers at Water’s Edge
To register or for more beach sweep sites in Monmouth county, call (732) 872-0111