Blackbough Swim cleans up La Union beach – adobo Magazine

LA UNION, PHILIPPINES — More than 170 volunteers united with Blackbough Swimming, an international swimwear brand based in the Philippines, will remove a truckload of waste from the nesting beaches of endangered sea turtles in Bacnotan, La Union. The one-day coastal clean-up, which coincided with Earth Day celebrations, underlined Blackbough Swim’s commitment to ecological conservation.

Building on the success of the first cleanup in 2023, which removed more than 100 bags of waste from Malinao Beach, Siargao, this year’s event marks Blackbough Swim’s continued commitment to marine conservation, a core tenet of the company’s sustainability journey brand. According to a 2021 study reported by ScienceDailyRemoving plastic from our beaches is crucial as it prevents them from becoming microplastics that endanger marine life.

The shores of Bacnotan, a refuge for endangered people pawikan (sea turtles), were the focus of this initiative. As part of its ongoing mission to promote marine conservation, Blackbough Swim has joined forces CURMA (actions for the management of coastal underwater resources), whose leadership in sea turtle conservation in the Philippines has been critical to the restoration of coastal forests and waste management practices to protect this vital habitat.

Blackbough Swim’s clean-up was an extensive day of environmental education and action. Volunteers did more than just pick up waste by learning, contributing and making a difference. The team carried out the clean-up work on the surrounding coastal areas Alpsthe official hatchery partner of CURMA in Bacnotan, home to one of the protected sea turtle nesting areas in La Union.

Volunteers removed more than fifty bags of rubbish and hazardous waste, including plastic waste, shoes, tires and barbed wire, within an hour. Keeping this habitat clean for ocean wildlife allows baby sea turtles to safely return to the ocean during nesting season.

After the cleanup, CURMA held a talk called “Turtle 101,” which educated participants on the species of turtles in the Philippines, their nesting habits, sea turtle conservation, and how simple daily actions can protect our oceans.

As a token of appreciation for their commitment to environmental conservation, volunteers were also given free rein with Blackbough merchandise and eco-friendly goodies from Earth kit And Magwai.

“Our commitment goes beyond the brand; we are a community that cherishes our natural world. This clean-up reflects our ethos, our commitment to turning the tide towards a sustainable future for all marine life and our future,” said Blackbough Swim Brand Director Misha Bernardino.

CURMA representative Carlos Tamayo added: “Our partnership with Blackbough Swim has been so much fun for our cleanup community. It is encouraging to see such enthusiasm for conservation, which is crucial for the survival of our loved one pawikan.”

Champ Lui Pio, Chairman of Alpas La Union and Siargao, said: “Together we have taken a step towards a cleaner and healthier beach for everyone to enjoy. Let us continue to work together to preserve and protect our precious coastal ecosystems.”

Ahead of International Coastal Cleanup Day in September, the company is preparing for another beach cleanup and continuing its advocacy for ocean conservation.

Blackbough Swim is currently donating 10% of net profits from the ‘Earth Day 2024 Collection’ to CURMA. Every sale of two bikini sets supports a daycare for 60 to 70 sea turtles in La Union, Philippines. View the Earth Day 2024 collection here. For more information about Blackbough Swim and its sustainability initiatives, visit the Blackbough Swim PH website.