NANAIMO - A newly formed local chapter of a global movement is trying to make a splash against beach trash. Su...

Lyne Morissette, a marine biologist and associate professor at the Université du Québec à Rimouski, co-founded an initiative eight years ago with the goal of collecting 10 tonnes of trash along the St. Lawrence River and seaway. This year, the project has expanded to 'Mission 1,000 tonnes,' a 16-day cleanup spanning 2,000 kilometres of shoreline involving scientists, volunteers, and local organizations. The expedition, called L’Expédition Saint-Laurent, includes stops in Montreal, Quebec City, Baie-Comeau, and the Innu community of Pessamit. Volunteers encounter various pollutants, including cigarette butts, plastic containers, and occasionally hazardous items like a mistaken gun found during cleanup. Morissette emphasizes that documenting collected trash helps understand pollution's impact on ecosystems, while also highlighting the importance of volunteer efforts in combating environmental challenges. The project has already collected 749 tonnes of waste, with a goal of reaching 1,000 tonnes by August 21, 2026. Morissette stresses that small individual actions, like picking up trash during walks, contribute to meaningful change despite the scale of the problem.