Beach Cleans

We all know that we need to keep our oceans clean, however, when you are in the ocean every day like us, you really see the importance of this. Surf Canaries has been cleaning beaches since it started 16 years ago and every year we have a bookmark event: Our Arguineguin Beach Clean and Ocean Festival, to which you are all invited!

On the 19^th November 2022, Surf Canaries once again teamed up with Oceans 4 Life and Tipsy Hammock for our 11^th official beach clean and clean ocean event!

The day went amazingly well with plenty of volunteers and rubbish collected. It has to be said that this year there was less waste around so this means we are going in the right direction!

Oceans for life provided their experience, volunteers and great logistics, for them it is just another beach clean as they are at it all year round!

As usual Tipsy Hammock brought their amazing food but above all their great atmosphere.. these guys really mean it when they want to help to change the situation and certainly do it in style!

And as usual the Surf Canaries Kids Club did us proud! They were very keen and collected plenty of rubbish before their training session in the water.

Take homes of the event

#1 Everyday is beachclean day! Pick up a little bit each time when we are at the beach, it is contagious to people around 😊

#2 Bear in mind and transmit to others the 7Rs:

Rethink your consumption

Refuse single use plastic or unnecessary products

Reduce consumption and waste

Reuse old products

Repair broken things before you re-buy

Regift things you no longer need 

Recycle any essential waste

On the 30th June Surf Canaries hosted the "Arguineguín Beach Clean and Reduce Single Use Plastics" day. This year’s 10th edition of the Beach Clean was in collaboration with the Surfrider Foundation , Initiativas Oceanas, Oceans4Life Gran Canaria, Tipsy Hammock cocktail bar & restaurant, Mogan and San Bartolome de Tirajana town councils, and various small local businesses.

In a wave of support and increasing awareness of the plight of our planet at the hands of climate change and plastic pollution, two major forces joined our event and helped propel it to new heights.

Those two forces were Oceans 4 Life and Tipsy Hammock.

With Oceans 4 Life providing its strong and motivated volunteer base, its materials and beach clean know-how and coordination, and Tipsy providing their Midas touch when it comes to creating a good time and good food wherever they are, our 10-year anniversary beach clean went off with a bang.

From the very start of the planning process (and yes, this has been a few months in the making) it was obvious that this issue is very close to their heart. As their slogan states - Tipsy Hammock is not just a bar, they are Tipsy Hammock! And this was demonstrated at the event as they rocked up early, plugged in and boom! Instant party. And not just that, delicious and well-prepared food, even live music. It is beyond any shadow of a doubt that these guys are untouchable in their field and the best bar in the south.

Oceans 4 Life arrived on the scene and no sooner than that, the click click sound of the litter pickers filled the air. These volunteers clean beaches all the time (as part of an organised event or solo) and their enthusiasm and dedication is infectious.

This is our second collaboration with them and they have been hugely active organising many beach cleans around the island, winning awards for their contribution to the environment, developing and introducing merchandise aimed at reducing single use plastic, and even breaking a world record along the way!

At every event we seem to get a surprise star. This year it was Bard, who with less than 24hrs notice, showed up with his son Adrian and what looked like a Hollywood movie set of cameras and drones! His footage was sensational, really gold-sealing what was a fantastic event. The photo that he took of us during the surfer´s paddle out from the drone can only be described as iconic.

And finally, the volunteers. Those that came from far and wide and gave up their day off. They are the reason why we are so proud of our event. They are the reason why we can have hope that we can do something against this dire situation that we find ourselves in.

Between now and the 11th beach clean there is plenty of work to do in reducing plastic waste and energy consumption but there is dialogue already towards a couple of projects… we will keep you posted!

Until then, and where you can, please reduce your energy and plastic consumption by making well informed consumer decisions. At the end of the day, the industry responds to our demands and if we demand more responsible products, they will produce them.

Until next time, Team Surf Canaries 

Filmed by: Bård Ove Myhr

Video Edit: Adam Blues/Oceans For Life

Song Credit: Bob Marley

Sung By: Joe

Video Credit: Samir Orel

Photo Credits: Bård Ove Myhr

Beach Clean Arguineguin 2016 took place on the 12th June 2016 and was a roaring success.

Surf Canaries Surf Club provided the organization and most of the volunteers were young surfers and ecologists from the area.

The day was enjoyed by all with plenty of plastic collected by 13:00 followed by a group dip in the cristal clear waters (no waves for us this year, but it didn’t matter, kids and boards all went in for an extended dip!)

 Then the traditional pork chop and chorizo BBQ provided kindly by Bar Gran Canaria Chano y Delia. All our printing was done by Real Graphic designs in Puerto Rico, and all the drinks provided by restaurant “Las Brasas” in C.C. Puerto Rico.

The beach, although pretty clean, threw up some surprises… a laptop case (now housing a small city of shellfish) and a 30 meter tow- rope (about the girth of some of our smaller members of the team!).

As always, our drive was more towards a change in attitude to the use/disposal of plastic, rather than the physical act of actually cleaning the beach. Plastic disposal, recycling are important but more-so is the need for us to reduce our consumption of plastic, especially when it is not necessary (eg single use plastic bags, one use bottles of water etc..)

Whilst it could be said that we are preaching to the converted (those that volunteered are the first to reduce their plastic consumption/step up their recycling) we are hoping that the waves we create on the site and on social media will help us add our gram of sand to a world-wide campaign. We are very proud to be associated with the Surfrider Foundation Europe, Oceans Initiative and the Clean Ocean Project , these guys are doing a great job at changing awareness when it comes to the environment, especially with regards to the ocean.

Many thanks to Jose Carlos, Consejal de Playas (the politician in charge of beaches and coastline) for his unwavering support for this event and to the Ayuntamientos de San Bartomome de Tirajana and Mogan for their help at the event and for maintaining the beaches clean during the rest of the year!

Special Thanks to Kasperi Turkia Photography for documenting our day!

Resources for further investigation on Instagram/Twitter:

@surfridereurope @cleanoceanproject @Surfersagainstsewage @2minutebeachclean @surfcanaries 

Arguineguin Beach Clean 2015

For the sixth consecutive year, Surf Canaries Surf School along with the public of Gran Canaria organised and took part in the “Arguineguin Beach Clean 2015” in collaboration with the Surfrider Foundation and Iniciativas Oceanas, Mogan and San Bartolome de Tirajana town councils, and various local small businesses on the 10th May 2015.

The idea of this event wasn’t  just to clean the beach (the Ayuntamientos de San Bartolome de Tirajana and Mogan actually do a really good job of this) it was also to raise public awareness that just because we pay taxes, it doesn’t mean that we can leave rubbish around. The Ayuntamientos are efficient but can’t be on top of it all, and any rubbish on the coast or flying in the breeze will always end up in the sea and is of great detriment to the local wildlife: the Surfrider Foundation Europe and Oceans Initiative 2015 campaigns slogan “We buy, the sea pays”  is to illustrate just this fact.

Our message is simple: Don’t litter, reduce consumption, refuse one use plastic bags, recycle

Many thanks to the Surfrider Foundation Europe and Oceans Initiative, the Ayuntamiento de San Bartolome de Tirajana, Ayuntamiento de Mogan, Super Chano supermarket/bar/cafeteria, Las Brasas Restaurant (Puerto Rico), Real Graphic Design (Puerto Rico), Clean Ocean Project, CaSa Cleaning and Surf Canaries Surf School!

Until next year.. but until then, watch what you throw and think twice before you buy!

Arguineguin Beach Clean 2014

Team Surf Canaries Along With Other volunteers at the 2014 Arguineguin Beach Clean

The Arguineguin 2014 Beach Clean happened last Sunday 6th April with great support from the local people, children and adults alike.

The idea of this event is, as every year, not just a beach clean. It is our way of communicating to the world that this generation of kids do care, that we demand changes, that we care for our beaches our oceans and our world. Our message is clear: More renewable energy, less dirty energy. Better garbage disposal, less plastic.

These kids care for their beach. They need renweables NOT oil #savecanarias

Over 1 KM of beach was cleaned, followed by a much deserved dip in the surf and BBQ.

With a great atmosphere, everyone enjoyed this important event.

People came from all over the island to help and it is very appreciated.

Time for some well deserved fun in the waves

Many thanks to the Surfrider Foundation Europe and Oceans Initiative, the Ayuntamiento de San Bartolome de Tirajana, Ayuntamiento de Mogan, Super Chano supermarket/bar/cafeteria, Las Brasas Restaurant (Puerto Rico), Real Graphic Design (Puerto Rico), Clean Ocean Project, CaSa Cleaning and Surf Canaries Surf School!

See you all next year, until then, reduce your plastic waste, reuse or, in worst case, re-cycle ;)

Limpieza de Playa Arguineguin 2014 

El pasado domingo, dia 6 de abril con el apoyo de la gente local, tanto ninos como adultos..

La idea de ese evento es que no se trata como solo una limpieza de playa, es nuestra manera de comunicar al mundo de que ese generacion de ninos si importa. Pidimos cambios, importamos mucho nuestras playas , oceanos y mundo. Nuestro mensaje es claro: Mas energy renoable, menos energia sucia. Mejor gestiones de basura, menos plastic.

Mas que 1 kilometro de playa se ha limpiado, seguido por un bano con algunas olitas y un asadero muy merecido.

Con un ambiente buenisimo, todos disfrutaron de este evento tan importante. 

Muchas gracias a Surfrider Foundation Europe y Oceans Initiative, Ayuntamiento de San Bartolome de Tirajana, Ayuntamiento de Mogan, Super Chano supermercado/bar/cafeteria, Las Brasas Restaurant (Puerto Rico), Real Graphic Design (Puerto Rico) Clean Ocean Project, CaSa Cleaning y Surf Canaries Surf School!

Arguineguin Beach Clean 2013

This year´s beach clean (24th March 2013) went extremely well, great atmosphere, company and a brand new sparkly clean beach! On top of that we got waves included..

Highlight a Plight: Every year we focus on different plights that may go un-noticed otherwise. This year we look at the importance of not only keeping our beaches clean, but WHY and HOW we can reduce our plastic consumption.

This year we are using the birds from the island of Gyre and how, astonishingly, despite being hundreds of km from the nearest populated coast, they are dying due to the ingestion of plastic debris in the water. 

Lobby the International Governments “Evolution of legislation” regarding Plastic Bags: This year, the Surfrider Foundation are lobbying to fight the number of “one use” plastic bags that are distributed. “Evolution of legislation” is how it is being named. 

Educate: Even small actions have big consequences when it comes to plastic in the sea…

Plastic, even if it is well disposed of by us, has an  uncanny knack of getting free… and once free, the only thing to trap it are bushes/trees or water… 

How does that affect us here? Well, any plastic on the beaches (or even the roads) combined with our climate of high winds means that plastic bags get airborne easily and only stop when it gets trapped to the first thing - usually a bush, tree or the ocean. 

Even if we are responsible and dispose of the plastic, how do we know that it is going to end up in the right place? How many times have you driven past the big garbage sites in Las Palmas and Juan Grande on a windy day and seen whirlwinds whisking plastic into the air?   

This plastic does not break down for a long time (see diagram x) and will easily arrive back on our beaches, ingested by fish, birds or sea mammals.

So our job of cleaning this beach on the 24th March will help A LITTLE towards our beach being clean, but if the publicity helps to make people more responsible about a) how they dispose of rubbish and b) cutting down on their use of plastic, then this will be our most successful aspect of the event

In further articles we will publicise the ways possible, also we would love to hear your ideas: How would YOU reduce your plastic consumption?

Send us your ideas an comments, no matter how crazy they may sound! 

Surfrider Beach Clean: Arguineguin 2012

In 2011, 42,000 volunteers in 35 countries got together to help clean up more than 1200 beaches, lakes and rivers over a weekend. They collected the equivalent of 38 busloads filled with aquatic waste,

talked about their consumer habits and took action against the pollution of the sea.

Two of these beach cleans took place in Gran Canaria,

...and this year, the Surfrider Foundation were back with Team Surf Canaries and the Clean Ocean Project for the 2012 Arguineguin Beach Clean

It has been a long road since the "Rise against Plastics" campaign started in 2006 but in this time, the Surfrider foundation (http://www.surfrider.eu) have stated that, apart from terrifying findings, comforting news is that we are seeing an increased citizen concern and a certain change in their behaviour. Every year, more people turn up to the gatherings.

The fact of the matter is simple. We are beginning to see the severely of our situation and begin to relate the importance of things like the ocean.

We are seeing in some parts of the ocean that there are 5 times more plastic than plankton and it is a proven fact that there isn´t a single beach left on this planet on which you will not find plastic.

We are seeing species dyeing out and we are beginning to understand how important the ocean is - it controls our whole weather system by regulating moisture and airflows between the equator and the poles. With even small changes to this we could see catastrophic events...

...Did you know that well renown clever chap Albert Einstein once predicted that if the humble bee where to become extinct, due to a knock on effect, mankind would have just 4 years before his extinction also?

The Rise Above Plastics campaign is a campaign to inform people, to raise awareness, and to spread good habits amongst the citizens of the entire world. Its aim is to make the public at large and also packaging producers aware of the impact their consumption and production is having on the sea and ocean, the coasts and river banks.

The campaign is aimed to make citizens aware of the need to change their consumer behaviour. Above all;

"The idea is not to just clean a beach, or even encourage people to do so, it is to make sure they are more careful about their waste and review their plastic consumption from the outset - the most environmentally friendly products are those that have never been made (for example, reuse a bottle for drinks and you avoid the production of a brand new plastic bottle each day) "Our biggest challenge is to make people aware of this, get them to feel how important this is, and only then will people change their habits"

So, the 17th annual "Ocean Initiatives" was held between 22nd - 25th March 2012 throughout the world and is thought to have hosted close to 1200 beach/river/lake cleans almost simultaneously. Let´s see how the Surf Canaries team did when they went to clean the famous "Callao" beach in Arguineguin...

Things didn't start great... Our beach clean kit that was lovingly packed and sent to us from Surfrider Foundation Europe´s HQ in France had been released from Customs by Estellez UPS company, who then in turn demanded lots of money to release the package. Lots of shouting ensued and to cut a long story short, people doing a good deed had to spill out good money to keep the project on course and our pack arrived just 3 days before the beach clean, not too much time for a poster campaign...

On the plus side, 2012 saw the collaboration with the Clean Ocean Project http://www.cleanoceanproject.org/. These guys are from Fuerteventura and organize beach cleans, monitor pollution situations and make some very nice environmentally friendly clothes.

Also, we saw great co-operation from the Mogan town hall with plastic bags and container supplied by the enthusiastic team in the office

Once again, the beach clean saw reliable collaboration from it´s faithful sponsors that support the beach clean each year:

CaSa Cleaning: http://casa-cleaning.com

Super Chano Supermarket (near to la charca beach, next to Fusion resturaunt)

Oceans Initiative: http://www.initiativesoceanes.org/

Surf Canaries www.surf-canaries.com

The British Medical Clinic: http://www.britishmedicalclinic.com/

Real Graphics Puerto Rico

Underwater Canarias Photography: http://www.underwatercanarias.com/

Please return the favour by using these local and good willed small businesses (the bigger businesses were no where near as generous!).

The day arrived, earlier than expected due to the change of the clocks! Some sleepy heads soon were running around excitedly when they saw the surf - perfect chest high waves greeted us... so it was straight in the water for the surf team for the pre-beach clean surf (whilst the none surfers had an impromptu BBQ sausage breakfast, also good!)

Once out of the water the team took position, sweeping along the beach from the small rock swimming pool, across to the "charca" river mouth, on past the football stadium and right up to the cement factory, separating plastic, carton, tin and other residues.

There was a good turnout from between the volunteers (not as many as we would have liked, but they made up for it with their enthusiasm) and it was really encouraging to see non-participants helping out, bring rubbish down and asking to join in. Some volunteers had come as far as Las Palmas to help, whilst other more local kids had to overcome adversity to participate - one example was a "grounded" youngster who had to negotiate his escape with his parents by tidying his house, to be aloud out to tidy the beach!

Once the beach was done, the BBQ was lit and there was more surfing to be had. With the van blaring music all day, the information stand with all the relevant flyers and snippits from the surfrider foundation on the stall and a couple of educational DVDs playing on loop in the van, there was a really good atmosphere on the beach.

So what is it that we want to say with all this?

Respect

the ocean, it is more important than we know

Refuse

the ubiquitous presence of plastic in our lives by avoiding over-packaged products and un-necessary plastic bags (which your average shop assistant will try to force onto you and all times!)

Reduce

our consumption of plastic, especially single use items such as plastic bags and plastic bottles.

Re-Use

old and used items

Recycle

our waste. This includes reducing our consumption - the most sustainable solution since recycling has an environmental cost

Many thanks to all who participated and the sponsors of the event. What a fun way to help out the beach and the rest of the environment!

Arguineguin Beach Clean with Ecologistas en Accion y Surf Canaries

On Sunday, 21st August, Las Lomas (vecinos of Arguineguin) organised with the collaboration of Ecologistas en Accion, PR Diving and Surf Canaries Surf Club, a beach clean and awareness raising day on the “forgotten” beach Playa de la Charca in Arguineguin.

The notion was to clean the beach (above and under the water using a team of divers) and to raise awareness of its plight as beach as it has been badly polluted right through this winter due to broken sewage works. A shame because this beach sometimes has excellent quality surf and is visited by people from far over to surf this esteemed wave.

The initiative was spearheaded by the Asociación Vecinos Las Lomas de Arguineguín and organised by Jenni Hymoff Koeppel.

The day started brisk and early (09:00 is early enough for any Sunday) but there was already some good atmosphere. The tent was already up, inscriptions out and music blaring…

The PR divers were soon in the water and aided by the Surf Canaries Surf Club kids (who helped ferry the debris to shore on massive surf boards) cleaned the bay. The divers were pleasantly surprised by the lack of rubbish in the bay and not too much work was needed there.

It was a different story on land however. There was plenty to go at but the 73-strong workforce made short work of it. Fuelled by the bocadillos on offer, they cleaned from the end of the beach (playa de la Charca) right round to the cement factory.

Once that the work was over, everyone had a well deserved feed, rope vieja and papas arrugadas

A highlight for the surf club kids was a trip onto the Ecologistas in Accion vessel, Diosa Maat. Jorge the captain made a great presentation to the group, resuming the initiative and showing displays of some of their work. The young surfers then got a ride into the port where Diosa Maat moored for the evening.

The whole event was a great success and really raised awareness of our beach in Arguineguin and that - although it may sometimes not appear so - people do care about its well being.

The whole exercise proves one thing. If we see something in our environment that isn’t as it should be, be it an untidy beach, a green area, a public park, or even an elderly person in poor conditions, a poor family, anything - we can do something about it with a little effort and co-ordination.

Surfrider Ocean Initiavive Beach Clean 2010 comes to Arguineguin

On the 26th March, 2010 Arguineguin Beach clean went off with a bang, simultaneously with 973 other beach cleans around Europe.

For the 16th year in a row, the Surfrider Foundation launched its Oceans Initiative throughout Europe and 2010 was one of the biggest years on record. The initiative had several incentives, not the least of which was to achieve beaches, lakes and rivers which are now clear of plastic, but also to highlight to people that if they leave plastic on the beach, they should change their ways.

Locally, our beach clean was organised by Surf Canaries Surf club and sponsored by Super Chano, CaSa Cleaning and the British Medical Clinic and with plenty of online build up, the day eventually arrived.

As we awoke on the big day, we were greeted by a nice surprise – after a week or two of flat ocean, we had WAVES! The beach clean was put on hold for an hour whilst the Surf Canaries Team took a quick training session…

On return, it was to work with earnest… 16 people (a number slightly down on last year but compensated by lots of enthusiasm!) carried out the beach clean which took them from the Playa de la Charca (the beach in front of Fusion) right up to the cement factory.

As organisers of the Arguineguin beach clean, we were overwhelmed by the children’s drive and commitment. Nobody left until the entire beach had been cleared. Everyone was united in the task and although the sun was strong, no-one complained and just got right on with it with a sense of fun.

A Cleaner 2011

The level of beach litter was far down on last year. This is a great sign – are people sitting up and taking note? Dropping less rubbish on the beach or in the sea? Are the local councils being more diligent with their beach management? We don’t know, but it is great news that our area is cleaner this year.

BBQ/Party

After the beach clean, it was time for another surf and to fire up the free BBQ for all hungry participants. Our BBQ was very kindly sponsored by Super Chano (the supermarket just round the corner from Fusion), Surf Canaries, CaSa Cleaning and The British Medical Clinic. All these companies are small, family run businesses in the area and willingly supported the cause. Nice, considering that some of the bigger, multinational companies that enjoy trade in Arguineguin couldn’t help out at all due to the “crisis” – still, we had to fetch some of their red logo emblazed plastic bags off the beach (no names mentioned! Rant overJ) - so please, support your local small business!

So, once again, these young surfers have proved, with no shadow of a doubt, that they love their surf beach and will go to all lengths to look after it and continue looking after it. Congratulations to all involved! Until next year…