Coney Island, NY, June 6, 2025 – The WCS New York Aquarium’s partners and volunteers picked up more than 200 pounds of litter today along the Coney Island beach in less than two hours in recognition of World Oceans Day, which is Sunday, June 8.

More than 150 volunteers picked up plastic straws and bottles; shoes; soccer balls; cigarette butts; metal bottle caps and cans; and other litter that could harm wildlife and people.

“The cleanup of the litter and debris along the Coney Island beach is designed to help ensure the ocean is safe for people and wildlife,” said Stephanie Joseph, Curator of Education at the New York Aquarium. “This is the fifth year of the New York Aquarium’s beach cleanup, and it is great to see the local community and others come out and take action to keep the ocean healthy and safe.”

WCS’s NY Aquarium Coney Island Beach Cleanup is sponsored by Armitron and Oceanic Global in partnership with Corona USA’s Protect Our Beach Initiative.

In addition to cleaning up the beach, volunteers signed a Wildlife Conservation Society petition to help ensure the underwater Hudson Canyon, 100 miles off the coast of New York, is designated as a National Marine Sanctuary. The petition can be found HERE.

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