St. Lawrence River cleanup aims to collect 1,000 tonnes of waste

A group of scientists, divers, and volunteers is conducting a 16-day cleanup expedition along the St. Lawrence River in Quebec. Known as "L’Expédition Saint-Laurent" and part of the "Mission 1,000 tonnes" initiative, the project aims to collect 1,000 tonnes of waste across a 2,000-kilometer stretch of the river and seaway.

Scientific director and marine biologist Lyne Morissette, an associate professor at the Université du Québec à Rimouski’s Institut des sciences de la mer, founded the initiative eight years ago. Originally targeting 10 tonnes of trash, the project has expanded significantly to address the impacts of plastic pollution and biodiversity loss on local wildlife, such as whales and turtles.

The expedition includes stops in the Greater Montreal and Quebec City areas, as well as Baie-Comeau and the Innu community of Pessamit on the North Shore. Volunteers document the collected debris to better understand how pollution affects different shorelines. Common items found include cigarette butts, plastic containers, and coffee cups.