Summary:
The Fjord CleanUP is a non-profit environmental organization supporting the restoration and protection of the Inner Oslo Fjord natural marine environment. We organize weekly voluntary cleaning events, where we provide volunteers with stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, diving equipment, and all the gear necessary to clean marine pollution out of the fjord. Our Mission:
REDUCE; reduce the am
ount of littering in the Oslo Fjord
RESTORE; restore the fjord to a state that is clear of rubbish and pollutants
REVITALISE; revitalize the ecosystem, encouraging the return of marine life
Our Event:
We organize cleaning events every Monday (between May - September) at one of the major rubbish hot spots in central Oslo waterfront: Aker Brygge / Tjuvholmen. The goal is to take as much marine waste out of the Oslo Fjord and Akerselva as possible, and then upload the amount collected to the site https://ryddenorge.no - this is a great way to track where we clean, what we clean, and how much we take up - we took 5 TONNES + of plastic out of the Oslo Fjord in 2020, and we are now currently at 5.7 tonnes in 2021. How We Clean:
We clean rubbish out of the waters by using stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, walking along the waterfront, free diving, and also scuba diving. We plan to also use natural methods to clean the water (growing seaweed and mussels), install automated marine cleaning bins (from Clean Sea Solutions), and place artificial reefs (together with Marin Reparatorene) to give marine life a place to thrive. We also work with Hold Norge Rent who supplies us with bags and gloves. Why We Clean:
Unfortunately, 2 tonnes of rubbish is dropped onto the streets of Oslo every day. This inevitably finds its way into the river or fjord by means of drains, being purposely dropped, or blown in by the wind. We believe that we all have a responsibility to keep Oslo clean and beautiful, especially the shops, supermarkets, and industries where most of the trash we find is coming from. Main types of plastic & waste we find in the water during our CleanUPs:
- Electric scooters
- Single use plastics
- Plastic lined coffee cups and lids
- Shopping bags
- Cigarette butts and cigarette packages
- Snus and snus boxes
- Plastic bottles and tops
- Food packaging
- Plastic ropes from boats
- Fishing lines & nets
Our Goals:
Stage 1
Be able to provide all of our volunteers with free diving and scuba diving training and equipment, so that we can expand our cleaning efforts to encompass the whole inner fjord, and do so in a safe manner - and to be able to clean all year round, whether it is snow, rain, or sun! Stage 2
Acquire a customized cleaning boat, an underwater drone, and automated marine rubbish bins (clean sea solutions) that we can strategically place at rubbish hot spots & intermittently empty - say once per week. This will allow us to map the fjord and to target specific dirty locations (even if it is deep) and to make sure there are systems in place, catching rubbish even if we are not physically cleaning. Stage 3
Strategically place artificial reefs, work for protected areas for marine life, and to implement natural cleaning solutions, like growing seaweed and mussels. This will provide marine life with a place to thrive while at the same time filtering toxins out of the environment. Hope you want to join in on our mission to clean up Oslo Fjord! https://www.fjordcleanup.no
