The International Coastal Cleanup will take place this Saturday. The cleanup is an annual event, sponsored in part by the Environmental Protection Agency, that includes over 100 countries and territories bordering every major body of water on Earth. It is the world’s largest volunteer effort to clean up the marine environment.

Last year, more than 8 million pounds of debris were removed from coastal, shoreline, and underwater sites around the world as part of the cleanup. Nearly 80 percent of the collected debris was considered disposable trash like plastic bags, bottle caps and soda bottles.

Learn more about this year’s International Coastal Cleanup and sign up to volunteer.

It’s been a year since the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill devastated communities along the Gulf Coast. The spill affected many aspects of coastal life, like the local economy and safety of the region’s natural resources.

Progress has been made over the past year, but recovery efforts and clean up are ongoing.

You can track the clean-up effort at www.restorethegulf.gov where you can find:

• Information about animals and plant life and the plan to restore natural habitats
• The latest on water and air quality
• Instructions on how to file a claim for individuals and businesses adversely affected by the spill

There is good news coming out of the Gulf: seafood and drinking water are safe to consume. You can still visit these areas to enjoy fishing, boating, and beach activities.

Sign up for email updates if you’d like to stay up to date on restoration efforts.