Marine plastic pollution is not just a distant issue—it’s a global crisis impacting more than 267 species, including nearly half of all seabird and marine mammal species.
Since 1951, Ocean Wise has been a champion for ocean health, growing into a global environmental charity tackling urgent challenges like ocean pollution. Despite progress, marine pollution continues to threaten ecosystems, making local action more vital than ever—especially along the shores of North and West Vancouver.
This year marks a powerful milestone: 30 years of shoreline cleanups led by Ocean Wise across Canada. Each cleanup is a step toward healing the ocean—and a reminder that everyday actions can lead to extraordinary change.
A local charity with national impact
Based in Vancouver, Ocean Wise is dedicated to protecting and restoring the ocean. The Shoreline Cleanup program engages residents to remove litter from their local waterways while also collecting valuable data on marine pollution.
“In 2022, the collected data actually helped the Canadian government to develop regulations on single-use plastics,” says Director of Ocean Pollution & Plastics at Ocean Wise Charlie Cox. “In just one year, the plastics ban seems to have had a significant impact - we have identified major reductions in certain types of trash targeted by the ban in data from our shoreline cleanup events.”
In 2024, Ocean Wise reported a 32% decrease in plastic straws found on shore compared to 2023, with a 25% reduction in plastic bags and a 10% reduction in plastic utensils over the same time period. The data indicates that these changes in regulations are working, while also validating the need to collect and submit data during the shoreline cleanups. In fact, North Vancouver had a data submission rate of 62.5% last year, which is much higher than the national average of 49%. Ocean Wise challenges residents to submit litter data when they do a cleanup to beat the rate again this year.
Why it matters: plastic, marine life and human health
Litter may seem like an aesthetic issue—but it poses serious risks to both wildlife and people. Plastics and other pollutants can entangle or be consumed by animals such as harbour seals, seabirds and fish, often with fatal consequences.
“This is not just a litter issue,” says Cox. “And it doesn’t stop at animals. Over time, this pollution has led to concerning health findings, from discovering microplastics in the human body and in human blood.”
Get involved on the North Shore
Residents of North Vancouver and surrounding communities have several ways to get involved with Ocean Wise. Individuals can take part in an upcoming shoreline cleanup or volunteer as a site coordinator to lead one themselves. Free training, safety guidelines and clean-up tools are all provided.
Perfect for a neighbourhood initiative, a corporate team-building event or a school-based project, each cleanup effort contributes valuable information to Ocean Wise’s global pollution database—one of the largest of its kind. This data plays a critical role in supporting environmental research and influencing policy decisions at local, national, and international levels. Beyond hands-on involvement, some community members are also supporting shoreline cleanups through peer-to-peer fundraising.
“It’s not just about one afternoon on the beach—it’s an opportunity to go outside with friends and the community,” says Cox. “As a resident of North Vancouver, I moved here for the nature, the mountains—everything that makes B.C. special. Taking care of our environment is important and we are proud and pleased by the community contributions so far to take action.”
Join the movement today
From the beaches of Ambleside to the shores of Cates Park, there are countless local sites where volunteers can make a difference. Ocean Wise invites the North Shore community to take action, protect marine life and help create a healthier future for our ocean.
Visit www.shorelinecleanup.ca to join or lead a shoreline cleanup near you.
