Underwater clean-up day carried out on Venezuelan beaches

• The activity was held in the context of World Beach Day, which is celebrated on the third Saturday of September | Photo: Shutterstock / Reference

Workers from Venezuela’s Ministry of Ecosocialism led an underwater cleanup campaign on 450 beaches in the country and called on citizens and tour operators to preserve these spaces, according to a press release issued on Sunday, September 22 by the ministry.

The clean-up operation, which included the collection of solid waste through “manual sanitation” of the coastal surface, was carried out on the occasion of World Beach Day, a date that the country uses to call for the protection of these ecosystems.

The Minister of Ecosocialism, Josué Lorca, explained that the “garbage collection” was carried out in all the regions of the country that are located in front of the Caribbean Sea, with the objective of achieving “100% clean” beaches that “must shine.”

“The Ministry deployed teams nationwide on all coasts (…) This is a call to all Venezuelans to join in raising awareness, to leave the beaches cleaner every day, to take with us each of the things we bring with us,” he said.

Photo: Ministry of Ecosocialism

Tons of plastic collected

Josué Lorca explained that fishermen involved in plastic collection have been collecting tons of this material, with which the Executive is “doing wonderful things,” including plastic wood docks, coastal surveillance huts, tables and chairs.

The Environment Ministry stressed that beaches represent “the main meeting point for vacations” and rest in the country, which registers an increase in visitors to the coasts during the weekends.

Environmental conservation and protection work

Venezuela’s Ministry of Ecosocialism (Environment) reported on September 16 that it released 600 seahorses in a national park in Nueva Esparta state as part of a plan to promote sustainability and environmental protection in the nation.

“Wildlife is something we need to care for. They are indicators of the health of our ecosystems and are part of a perfect balance that allows us to continue having healthy sources of life,” said Minister Josué Lorca – quoted in a press release.

He also said that to date a total of 2,600 seahorses have been released in the country. “These are just efforts that are being made to continue maintaining this environmental heritage, not only for Venezuelans, but also the environmental heritage of the world and that of future generations,” he added.

In May 2024, the organization announced the release of 1,000 seahorses on a beach in the Mochima National Park, in the state of Sucre (northeast), as part of a sustainability plan that seeks the repopulation of this endangered species.

At the time, he explained that colonies of this species are threatened by the loss and fragmentation of their natural habitats.

Lorca stressed that the release of the seahorses is part of a project financed by the Revolving Fund Against Climate Change, which “contributes to the fulfillment of the first line of action of the National Strategy for Biological Diversity (ENDB)”.

With information from EFE

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