FOR OUR WILDLIFE: Clean up Alki Beach with Seal Sitters and friends next Saturday

(Photo by Robin Lindsey)

As this weekend winds down, here’s a plan you can make for the start of next weekend: Lend a couple hours next Saturday morning to help Seal Sitters keep Alki Beach wildlife from being harmed by trash. Here’s the announcement:

Let’s clean up our act! Join Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network and co-sponsor Sno-King Marine Mammal Response on Saturday, June 24th, as we clean up Alki Beach and surrounding sidewalks and streets to help reduce the impact humans have on our fragile marine ecosystem and save wildlife (photo is a typical early morning scene at Alki during warmer months). Trash on the beach becomes treacherous in the water. The “Sentinels of the Sound” cleanup is from 9:30-noon with assembly at the Statue of Liberty Plaza (Alki Avenue SW and 61st Ave SW).

All marine life is endangered by marine debris and plastics pollution. Many, many thousands of marine animals and sea birds are injured and die each year from derelict fishing gear, marine debris, and pollution. They are entangled and drowned by nets and gear – strangled and contaminated by plastics.

Harbor seals (who do not migrate and are year-round residents) and resident Puget Sound orcas, both animals at the top of the food chain, are especially hard hit by pollutants from storm runoff and plastics that break down into microscopic particles and enter the food chain. These deadly toxins are then stored in the blubber of marine mammals and passed on in mothers’ milk to nursing young.

You can truly make a difference for wildlife. Come on down and grab a bucket and pair of “pluckers” (if you have your own, please bring them). RSVP is requested – e-mail sealsitters.outreach@msn.com – to ensure there are enough materials on hand. If you can’t attend on Saturday, you can make every trip to the beach a personal cleanup day by taking a bag and gloves along with you to pick up and dispose of trash. Every little bit helps!

Please visit Seal Sitters’ website to learn more, in-depth, about the dangers of marine debris and pollution.

6 Replies to "FOR OUR WILDLIFE: Clean up Alki Beach with Seal Sitters and friends next Saturday"

  • SpaceDust June 18, 2017 (7:25 pm)

    Why can’t people put the trash in to the trash can…

    Is it because trash can’t throw trash away?

    • Mike June 19, 2017 (9:16 pm)

      The people that do this are trash themselves.  They don’t care and they are not residents of the area.  As summer heats up, it’s going to get worse.  With the massive amounts of money moving into the area, you’d think more would be put to help make things nicer and cleaner. 

  • Community Member June 18, 2017 (8:46 pm)

    Often the trash WAS placed in the trash can, but was pulled back out by scavenging seagulls or raccoons.  Bird-proof bins would help. Other times, the bins are full, and park-goers pile the trash nearby, mistakenly assuming that trash pickup is imminent.   More frequent pick-ups during good weather would also help.  

    And, sure, sometimes some people are lazy. Or drunk. 

    The businesses along Alki that sell the food might consider sending an employee over to the beach now and then to pick up the wrappers.

  • A June 18, 2017 (9:35 pm)

    You are correct trash does not know how to throw itself away. The trash does however know how to drive a car to Alki from Kent, Renton, Auburn and whatever other trash infested city that surrounds our beautiful city. Oh, and the trash also knows how to fire guns unfortunately. I love Alki but as a local I only go there in the winter to enjoy the nice restaurants and the scenery without all the trash

  • newnative June 19, 2017 (11:39 am)

    I’m always surprised how many people pile garbage on top of garbage, letting it fly away or overflow.  There are some trash cans with the heavy anti-pest lids, but not enough. I agree the businesses should send out their employees to pick up the outdoor litter, at least in the vicinity of the business.  Nothing like seeing plastic cups and straws on the ground right outside the local coffee shop.  

  • Paul Binder June 19, 2017 (1:17 pm)

    I rarely go to Alki in the summer months, but the few times I have gone, its very apparent that there is clearly not enough trash containers and on a nice weekend I would think that the city would have the containers emptied more than once a day.  I would also love to see more businesses use compostable containers for their food.  Just like Taco Time uses.  

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