Broadreach volunteers help clear thousands of pieces of litter from Statia’s beaches

ORANJESTAD – Volunteers from Broadreach joined the St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA) on two separate occasions for beach cleanups at Zeelandia Beach and Compagnie Bay, removing a total of 7,121 pieces of litter from the island’s shoreline.

At Zeelandia Beach, 40 volunteers collected 4,293 items, including 601 pieces of fishing gear and 613 plastic bottle caps. At Compagnie Bay, 42 volunteers gathered 2,828 items, among them 866 plastic bottles and 1,333 other plastic items.

According to STENAPA, litter poses a serious threat to sea turtles on the island. Turtles can become entangled in discarded fishing gear, mistake plastic for food, or encounter debris that blocks hatchlings from reaching the ocean safely. The organisation says every piece of litter removed from the beaches helps create a safer environment for Statia’s wildlife, and thanked the Broadreach participants for their contribution to the cleanups.

Broadreach is an American organization that has been running educational and adventure-based summer programs for young people since 1993, primarily for high school and college students. Participants travel in small groups through destinations mainly in the Caribbean and Central and South America, combining activities like sailing and professional (PADI) diving with hands-on education in fields such as marine biology, veterinary medicine, and conservation. As part of these programs, students also take part in local volunteer projects, including collaborations with park management organizations like STENAPA on St. Eustatius, which is how Broadreach participants ended up joining the beach cleanups at Zeelandia Beach and Compagnie Bay.