It is sad to see how much washed up plastic garbage is out here. We’ve noticed more here in Panama than in Costa Rica, but that's probably not a fair comparison since in Costa Rica we were on mainland and Panama we’ve mostly been on remote islands. In Costa Rica there were garbage containers on most beaches, but they don't exist here. But who would collect it on a remote island? In the towns of Catalina and Puerto Mutis, the only 2 mainland stops we've had in Panama, there were garbage cans on the beach also.
Much of what we've seen in plastic bottles, with assorted other shoes, Styrofoam, toys, ice chests, 5 gallon buckets, rope and fishing line. It's been very interesting to see what must float and not decompose. It's also interesting to see how local attitudes affect the environment around you. When we gave candies to the kids in the town of Esmerelda, they took the wrapper off and threw it straight into the water. And it seems that everything you buy comes with packaging these days. These little outlying villages have tiny stores that only stock things with long shelf lives - soda, not juice, cans, no fresh fruits or veggies, etc. Now I’ve never been a fan of bottled water. OK, I am a huge fan of the marketing strategy that can sell municipal water for $1.00 per bottle or maybe even filter the trace elements out of it and the added fluoride, then mark it up for that service. But, not a fan in that I like to buy it or believe that I must have it rather than drink a glass of water from the tap. Therefore it’s disheartening to see all of these bottles out here washed up and know that we’re marketing bottles all over the place and consumers are eating it up hook, line and sinker. And don’t get me wrong; there are times a bottle sure is convenient to bring in your car and not spill, or in a backpack or whatever. Love the option!! Just wish people would be a little better self-managed and a little more aware not to just drop them when they are done. Solution? - no idea. Need to change local attitudes about litter I think first and foremost. Wish cruiser groups or local fishing groups, or even rangers would come and gather them up. Collect them and bring them to mainland? Maybe if they had a big enough value you'd get poor fisherman to come and collect them? We have paid extraordinary fees for being in National Parks. The rangers just seem to go around and collect the fees and maybe give tours. I wish I saw them even just once go and do a beach clean up day since we paid them so handsomely. On mainland Catalina I did see one sign that said "no more garbage on the beach, please place it in trash”. And another handmade flyer on a post saying, "Saturday is beach clean up day" so they are trying at a local level, which is great. Problem on the remote beaches is you need prevention since it's so hard to get access and room for all of the garbage you’d collect.
We burn our garbage when we get a bag full. We recycle overboard anything that decomposes once we are 3 miles out and keep it in a separate bin when close to shore. When we burn our garbage, we gather up all the plastic we can handle and burn it also. Hundreds of bottles each time, the kids gather it or firewood in exchange for marshmallows to cook. But it’s overwhelming, I spent hours at the fire the other day and only dented the 20-foot circle around the fire. Guess in these remote areas, the litter affects few people also. Would like to see it improved by people being responsible for their garbage rather than making it other people's issues. Think education and local attitude is the most important step here. Tourism being a big industry could be the best angle to take. If you have litter all over the beaches, you won’t impress your tourists, they won’t give a good review, you won't get as many more tourists. That being said - despite the garbage, Panama has been awesome. Gorgeous islands, beaches, weather, water, and friendly people!! Could work on the plastic litter issue.
From Crew-Member Shannon
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