Students and volunteers clean Pudumadam beach on Saturday.
On the occasion of International Coastal Cleanup Day (ICCD–2026) on September 19, the Department of Marine and Coastal Studies, Madurai Kamaraj University, organised a beach cleaning and coastal awareness programme at Pudumadam beach in Ramanathapuram district on Saturday.
International Coastal Cleanup Day is observed globally on the third Saturday of September every year. On this day, volunteers across the world participate in beach and coastal clean up activities and create awareness about marine pollution and coastal conservation. The theme of ICCD–2026 was: “Clean Coast! Safe Sea!” The programme emphasised the importance of maintaining clean beaches and protecting marine ecosystems.
M. Anand, Associate Professor, Head & Chairperson, Department of Marine and Coastal Studies, MKU, advised the public to avoid using plastic bags while purchasing goods from shops and restaurants and encouraged the use of cloth bags as an environmentally responsible alternative.
He highlighted about the significant issue of plastic waste, especially water bottles and other plastic materials, littering coastal areas. In addition, he stated that plastic waste affects marine organisms, coral reefs, and their biological functions. Waste segregation should be done at home, which will help prevent plastic from reaching the coast.
The programme also emphasised the importance of segregating biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste at the household level. Proper segregation of solid waste at source could significantly reduce the amount of waste reaching coastal areas, they noted.
At the clean up drive, a total of 317.29 kg of coastal waste was collected. The collected waste consisted of various types of coastal and marine debris, including: Plastic waste Glass bottles Discarded fishing nets Paper Rubber Clothes These different categories of waste represent the types of marine debris commonly encountered along coastal areas and highlight their potential impacts on marine ecosystems and marine organisms.
The clean up activity not only removed waste from the beach but also created awareness among students, volunteers and the general public regarding: Reduction in plastic consumption Segregation of waste at source responsible disposal of solid waste Prevention of waste entering coastal and marine environments Protection of coastal and marine ecosystems.
Published – September 19, 2026 08:06 pm IST
