On Saturday 13 June 2026, students of St. Augustine Girls' High School joined the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) under the Prevention of Marine Litter in the Caribbean Sea (PROMAR) Project, in collaboration with the Caribbean Network for Integrated Rural Development (CNIRD) and the Courtyard by Marriott Trinidad, for a coastal cleanup at the Foreshore, Port of Spain.

 

The initiative aimed to raise students' awareness of the causes and impacts of marine litter, with a particular focus on plastic and packaging waste in Trinidad and Tobago. By taking part in the beach cleanup, approximately 20 students gained first hand experience of the scale of marine litter while contributing to a practical solution. Together, volunteers removed an impressive 476.3 kg of marine debris from the coastline, including 240.4 kg of general waste, 158.8 kg of plastics, 77.1 kg of glass and 35 discarded bags. The activity not only helped protect marine ecosystems and create a cleaner, healthier coastline, but also reinforced PROMAR's goal of preventing marine litter through education, community engagement and encouraging long term behavioral change.

 

Beyond the beach cleanup, students took part in a range of interactive educational activities at the PROMAR booth designed to increase awareness of marine litter and promote positive environmental behaviors. Students engaged in interactive quizzes exploring the causes and impacts of marine pollution, particularly plastic pollution, and learned about the importance of responsible waste management.

 

Informational brochures on plastic pollution and the PROMAR Project, implemented by the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA), were distributed to participants to reinforce these key messages. Students also received tokens and prizes in recognition of their participation and enthusiasm throughout the event. In addition, the PROMAR team introduced the upcoming Video Competition, inviting students to creatively explore the issue of marine pollution through short videos highlighting its impacts, proposing innovative solutions and demonstrating individual actions that can help protect the marine environment. The competition seeks to foster environmental stewardship by encouraging positive behavioral change and empowering students to become ambassadors for plastic pollution prevention, promoting sustainable practices and increased awareness within their schools and communities.

 

The Foreshore cleanup demonstrated the value of combining hands-on environmental action with education to foster lasting behavioral change. By engaging students in practical conservation efforts and increasing their understanding of marine litter, the initiative advanced PROMAR's objective of preventing marine pollution through awareness, community participation and responsible environmental stewardship. Through continued collaboration and youth engagement, initiatives such as this contribute to building cleaner coastlines and more environmentally conscious communities across Trinidad and Tobago.