The Tale of the Travelling Wire Shark who Collected Litter to help Cleanup the Ocean

In celebration of National Cleanup Week (10 – 14 September) and International Coastal Cleanup Day (15 September), the Save Our Seas Shark Centre had a life-size wire shark made by Steetwires, a local Fair Trade organization, and called for the public to help fill its hollow belly with litter and recyclables collected on the beach and surrounds.

The wire shark was positioned outside the Centre every day, where visitors and school groups helped to fill it with litter. During a social outreach initiative organized by SHAWCO, UCT’s Underwater Club and Save Our Seas on 12 September, children had fun contributing their recyclables to the wire shark.

wire shark

The wire shark also travelled around the peninsula collecting litter. It went on a beach cleanup on Kommetjie and Noordhoek beaches with the Shark Centre team and others.

beach cleanup

It also travelled to Simonstown to support an International Coastal Cleanup Day celebration event organised by the UCT Underwater Club, to collaboratively cleanup the ocean in Simonstown as part of their CleanDIVER initiative. About 70 divers from the UCT Underwater Club, False Bay Underwater Club and South African Navy all participated in this cleanup event, which was supported by PlasticsSA, SANParks, the Ocean Conservancy, Kelpak and the Save Our Seas Shark Centre.

uct cleandiver

By the end of the month the shark had a full belly of litter, which will be sorted for recycling. Thank you to everyone who helped cleanup beaches and surrounds and who contributed to the wire shark’s belly.

wire shark