Last November, we opted out of the norm and chose Blue Friday— a coordinated effort between brands and consumers to make a measurable impact on ocean conservation—over Black Friday. Offering some of our deepest discounts of the year, we donated a portion of all sale proceeds to ocean conservation and a marine debris removal project in British Columbia.
Living Oceans’ Largest Cleanup Yet
Thanks to the Blue Friday initiative, Living Oceans Society, a leader in the effort to protect Canada's oceans, launched its largest effort yet to tackle the mountain of plastic polluting the shores of a critical seabird habitat—the Scott Islands.
A Vital Seabird Habitat
Located in Canada's westernmost waters, the Scott Islands are home to millions of seabirds and the world's largest sea lion rookery. Rich upwelling currents draw abundant marine life, but these same currents also bring in a constant influx of marine plastics, turning foreshores and near-shore waters into a perilous trap for wildlife. Fishing ropes and nets pose entanglement hazards, while seabirds and fish often mistake small plastic pieces for food, leading to painful deaths—especially when adult birds unknowingly feed brightly coloured plastics to their chicks. Clearing this area of plastic pollution has been a top priority for years.
- Foam fishing net float commonly found on the BC coast
Mustang Survival's Support
"With Mustang's help, we were able to send out two full teams of six in June, tackling four of the most heavily impacted beaches on the south and west shores of Cox Island," says Karen from Living Oceans. "With boat support, we were able to move crews past forbidding, rocky headlands to access more areas than ever before. We recovered over 30 cubic metres of debris, including fishing gear, floats, rope, net, foam packaging material, largely from the containership spills, and foam flotation—docks, smaller floats of every size and description."
42,251 lbs of Marine Debris Removed
In 2023, our contributions removed 5,700 lbs of marine debris—the Blue Friday initiative has removed 42,251 lbs of marine debris to date—and distributed it to recyclers, re-users, and landfills. Unfortunately, much of it was old and degraded, meaning only a small portion could be recycled compared to previous years. However, this also means the debris removed was at the greatest risk of breaking down into harmful microplastics, which would have posed an even greater threat to wildlife.
- Beverage container from overseas are also common finds
Continued Ocean Conservation
This monumental effort underscores the urgent need for continued action to protect our oceans and wildlife from the relentless tide of plastic pollution. By partnering with collectives like Blue Friday, we help remove dangerous debris and preserve vital ecosystems. Together, we can continue to turn the tide and make a lasting impact on the health of our planet's oceans, ensuring they remain safe havens for wildlife and clean, thriving spaces for all to enjoy responsibly.
Learn more about Living Oceans Society & donate to the cause now.
