PORTSMOUTH—Earth Day, celebrated on April 22 (and throughout the month of April), was first established 55 years ago to raise awareness about environmental issues around the globe. Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation, based in Portsmouth, NH, a non-profit focused on protecting marine life in the Gulf of Maine, is adding their own mission to the messaging.

Blue Ocean Society is looking for like-minded volunteers concerned about marine life and the health of our oceans to assist in keeping our local beaches clean.

“So many of us walk our beaches to enjoy the tranquility and the beauty while also benefitting from the exercise and fresh air,” said Jen Kennedy, Executive Director of Blue Ocean Society. “We are asking for all our fellow beach walkers to join us in the cause of keeping our beaches clean and safe. This will maintain the beauty of our beaches as well as help safeguard marine life from harmful litter that washes into the ocean.”

Each year, Blue Ocean Society leads beach cleanup events in Southern Me, along all of the New Hampshire coastline and Salisbury, Mass. – both public and private – to remove and track marine debris. Marine debris, also known as marine litter, refers to human-made items on the beach or in the ocean that do not belong in nature. I

n 2024, leading the list of debris items collected from these local beaches were cigarette butts/filters, plastic bottles/caps, wrappers and single use plastics such as straws, plastic bags and utensils. “If these items get washed out into the water, they can harm marine life,” states Kennedy. 

Through the Blue Ocean Society “Adopt-A-Beach” program you commit to cleaning that beach for one year and can do so on your own or organize a group – be it work teams, friends, family members, or neighbors – to volunteer to clean it with you. You can even add a competitive dimension and adopt different beaches and compare your collection tallies! Children can be included and will learn important lessons while having fun. Beaches in Southern Maine, the New Hampshire coast and Salisbury, Massachusetts are all available for “adoption.” 

Individuals wanting to adopt a beach and help with the removal of marine litter are asked to visit the Blue Ocean Society website at www.blueoceansociety.org or call (603) 431-0260. A complete list with a map showing the locations along with a sign-up form are available at the website. Public beach cleanup events for those looking to help occasionally are also listed on the site.

“As beach season is almost here,” Kennedy reminds us, “every one of us can do our part to help keep our beaches clean. By packing food in reusable containers that you take with you, not using lightweight plastic bags or bottles that can fly away and making sure you throw away any and all trash, including cigarette butts. Please share this message with family, friends and visitors, too. Our ocean depends on it.”