Coastal Cleanup Day: Restoring Coastal Waters for Sea Otters and Marine Wildlife

Key Takeaways

• When is International Coastal Cleanup Day in 2026? It takes place on the third Saturday in September. In 2026, International Coastal Cleanup Day is Sept. 19.
• How do beach cleanups help marine animals? Beach cleanups remove harmful debris that can injure, trap, or be eaten by marine wildlife.
• How can you get involved? Volunteers can join a mapped cleanup site, use the Clean Swell app, or do a self-guided cleanup at any time of year.
• What should you do if you spot wildlife? Take a moment to enjoy it (and maybe grab a photo), but give animals plenty of space and avoid making loud noises. If you find an injured animal, contact wildlife authorities instead of stepping in.

What Is Coastal Cleanup Day?

Coastal Cleanup Day began back in 1986, when two Ocean Conservancy staffers rallied volunteers to collect trash along the Texas coastline. It's grown a lot since then. The International Coastal Cleanup now takes place in almost every state and over 100 countries, and it's become the largest volunteer event tied to the marine environment. Every year, on the third Saturday in September, people head out with gloves and trash bags to pull litter off beaches and out of waterways, and they log what they find along the way.

You don't need to live near the ocean to join in. Storm drains and inland waterways often connect straight to the sea, carrying trash and runoff along with them, sometimes over great distances. The Environmental Protection Agency notes that stormwater typically flows untreated into nearby lakes, rivers, or coastal waters, so cleaning up a neighborhood creek or storm drain can help protect marine ecosystems many miles away.

How Do Beach Cleanups Help Marine Wildlife?

Every piece of trash in the ocean is a potential hazard for marine life. Sea turtles, seals, whales, and seabirds often mistake litter for food or become tangled in fishing lines and nets. More than 1,500 marine and terrestrial species have been documented ingesting or becoming entangled in plastic waste in the ocean, so every bag of trash removed is one less threat to wildlife.

Removing larger plastic debris also helps prevent it from breaking down into microplastics, which are tiny fragments that are nearly impossible to clean up once they enter the water. By stopping that process early, cleanups help reduce a growing source of pollution that can persist in marine ecosystems for decades.

Sea otters are a great example of just how vulnerable marine mammals really are. Their thick fur needs to be clean and well insulated to keep them warm, so oil, plastic, and other debris in the water can mat their coats and leave them at risk of hypothermia. Every cleanup helps create a safer habitat for sea otters and countless other marine species.

Where and How Can You Get Involved in Coastal Cleanup Day?

Getting involved is easier than most people expect:

• Use the Ocean Conservancy cleanup map to find a coastal cleanup site near you and check if it requires registration.
• Bring your own gloves, a bucket, and a reusable water bottle to cut down on extra waste at the event.
• Try a self-guided cleanup or the Adopt a Beach program any time of year if September doesn't work for your schedule.
• Rally friends, coworkers, or classmates and turn it into a group outing.

No matter which option you choose, every bag you fill is one less bit of plastic in the ocean, and that adds up fast when volunteers team up around the world.

What to Know If You Spot a Sea Otter (or Other Wildlife) During a Cleanup

If you're lucky enough to spot a sea otter or other wildlife during a cleanup, take a moment to appreciate the experience or take a photo if you can. Just remember to admire wildlife from a respectful distance, avoid approaching or feeding animals, and keep noise levels low so you don't disturb them.

If you come across an otter or another marine animal that appears injured, sick, or entangled, resist the urge to help it yourself. Instead, contact local wildlife authorities or a marine mammal rescue organization so trained responders can step in safely.

Looking Ahead to Sea Otter Awareness Week

Sea Otter Awareness Week falls during the last full week of September, right around the same time as coastal cleanup season. It's a great chance to celebrate these playful, furry keystone species and learn more about the role they play in keeping kelp forests and nearshore ecosystems healthy.

Together, Coastal Cleanup Day and Sea Otter Awareness Week are reminders that small actions can lead to meaningful conservation wins. Whether you join a cleanup, support sea otter conservation by establishing an initiative, or simply share what you've learned about marine plastic pollution, every effort helps create cleaner coastlines and a safer future for wildlife.

At the Sea Otter Foundation & Trust, we work to ensure the survival and recovery of sea otters in their habitats by building funds to support research, conservation, and education. You can learn more about the all-important efforts of our grant recipients by watching our interviews with them. These efforts are funded directly by our supporters, so consider advancing our crucial work by adopting an otter or making a donation today!