WISTA and CARIBMEPA Lead Caribbean Coastal Clean Up

Photo: CARIBMEPA and NAMEPA Board members, and delegates of the 2019 WISTA International AGM and Conference, collect trash on a Grand Cayman beach in the Cayman Islands.

Members of The Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA), Women in Maritime Association- Caribbean (WiMAC) and the Caribbean Marine Environment Protection Association (CARIBMEPA) met up to clean portions of 7-Milea beach in Grand Cayman last week. More than 20 delegates attending WISTA’s International Annual General Meeting and Conference joined NAMEPA and CARIBMEPA Board Members for the early morning clean up, where they collected over 30 pounds of trash including 25 bottle caps, 66 pieces of glass, construction material and 96 cigarette butts – the world’s most common trash item.

Over 250 delegates attended the WISTA Conference last week, hosted by the WISTA Cayman Islands chapter, headed by Sherice Arman of the Maples Law Firm. “Taking advantage of such a large gathering of maritime professionals seemed appropriate for conducting a beach cleanup,” observed Ms. Arman. “We incorporated it into the program just as maritime professionals around the world care for the their “home”- the marine environment.” The WISTA meeting was the largest maritime event to occur on Cayman Island.

CARIBMEPA engages with its stakeholders to support beach cleanups and education with the public to raise awareness about marine debris. In Trinidad and Tobago, members of WiMAC held a student forum on World Maritime Day to educate on marine debris. This issue is also currently being examined by the International Maritime Organization under MARPOL Annex V.

CARIBMEPA is currently being incorporated in the Cayman Islands.

Media contact: Michele Ferguson m.ferguson@morganmarketcomm.com or +1 203 255 4686

ABOUT WISTA– Formed in 1974, the Women’s International and Trading Association (WISTA International) is a global organization connecting female executives and decision makers around the world. WISTA International serves as a connector for its network of more than 3,000 female professionals from all sectors of the maritime industry. Visit them at www.wisttainternational.com.

ABOUT CARIBMEPA– Incorporated in 2019, the Caribbean Marine Environment Protection Association (CARIBMEPA) is an organization which acts as consolidator for marine environment issues and actions in the Caribbean, an umbrella for engaging industry, regulators, governments, conservation groups, educators and more in protecting the marine environment, acts as a focal point for facilitating the implementation of MARPOL in the Caribbean, and educates the public about protecting the marine environment.

ABOUT NAMEPA – The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) is a marine industry-led organization of environmental stewards preserving the marine environment by promoting sustainable marine industry best practices and educating seafarers, students and the public about the need and strategies for protecting global ocean, lake and river resources. Visit us at www.namepa.net.