Friends of V.I. National Park celebrates Ocean Week with coastal cleanup, virtual seminars

Friends of V.I. National Park celebrates Ocean Week with coastal cleanup, virtual seminars

Friends of Virgin Islands National Park will celebrate Ocean Week with a coastal cleanup and two free virtual seminars.

"Inspired by International Coastal Cleanup Day, we join millions around the world to make a difference because every bottle, every straw, every piece of trash we clean up can lead to a cleaner, healthier ocean," said Tonia Lovejoy, Friends of V.I. National Park executive director. "Let's protect our ocean, marine life, and coral reefs together!"

Ocean Week activities will kick off with a Drunk Bay beach clean up, from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. The beach is located near the Salt Pond Trail, and volunteers will meet at the Salt Pond parking lot.

Volunteers should wear comfortable shoes, as Drunk Bay is rocky, and bring sun protection and water. Friends of the Park will provide gloves and bags. High schoolers will be credited with five community service hours.

At noon on Monday there will be a virtual seminar with Nancy Prentiss on the discovery of a new species of fanworm. Prentiss has studied polychaetes (marine worms) on St. John for over 10 years. Join the recorded Zoom seminar to learn more about her work.

At noon on Tuesday there will be a virtual seminar covering the work by CORE in saving endangered coral in the national park. Rebecca Gibbel and the CORE team will give an update on their work at the coral nursery dome in Leinster Bay. The nursery has seen rapid growth this year, and attendees are invited to learn more. Schools are welcome to register for the seminars.

For more information and to register for Ocean Week seminars visit https://friendsvinp.org/.