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MONTREAL – Driven by a desire to move beyond the pessimism surrounding environmental degradation, marine biologist Lyne Morissette has co-founded an initiative that aims to collect 1,000 tonnes of litter from the St. Lawrence River and its shores. This year marks a significant expansion of the project, which began eight years ago with a more modest target of just 10 tonnes. Morissette, accompanied by a team of scientists, divers, and volunteers, is embarking on a 16-day expedition to cover roughly 2,000 kilometres, working in partnership with local communities to tackle pollution head-on.
The Expedition: L’Expédition Saint-Laurent
The latest phase of this ambitious undertaking, dubbed L’Expédition Saint-Laurent, involves various clean-up events spanning from the Greater Montreal area to Quebec City, and reaching as far as Baie-Comeau and the Innu community of Pessamit on the province’s North Shore. With each stop, local volunteers are joining the effort, contributing to a collective push to rid the river of harmful waste.
Morissette, who also serves as an associate professor at the Institut des sciences de la mer at the Université du Québec à Rimouski, expressed mixed emotions about the volume of rubbish collected. “The more we gather, the more it underscores the severity of the issue, yet it’s also a relief to know that this material is being removed from nature,” she remarked during a recent clean-up in Magog, located in the picturesque Eastern Townships.
Documenting Pollution Patterns
Each region along the river presents a unique profile of waste, according to Morissette. While common items such as cigarette butts, plastic takeout containers, and coffee cups are often discovered, the clean-up efforts can yield unexpected finds. One memorable incident involved the retrieval of what appeared to be a firearm, which later turned out to be a starting gun from a rowing competition. “We had to alert the police, but thankfully it was a false alarm,” Morissette recounted, emphasizing the protocols in place to ensure that all items are handled safely.
As the expedition’s scientific director, Morissette is focused on documenting the litter collected to gain a clearer understanding of how pollution is affecting the river’s ecosystems. She points out that Quebec is not isolated from global environmental issues, stating, “Climate change, rising sea temperatures, biodiversity loss, and plastic pollution are not distant problems; they are right here.”
A Message of Empowerment and Hope
While the challenges are significant, Morissette remains optimistic about the commitment of the many volunteers who dedicate their time to these clean-up initiatives. She believes it is essential to foster a sense of hope and urge individuals to take action, no matter how small. “Even spending an hour picking up rubbish or taking a few moments during a walk to collect litter contributes to a larger effort,” she noted, underscoring the cumulative impact of individual actions.
Since its inception, the Mission 1,000 tonnes initiative has successfully gathered approximately 749 tonnes of waste, a figure that Morissette estimates is slightly higher. She assures supporters that the organisation will continue its work beyond reaching the 1,000-tonne milestone, although a name change is unlikely after the initial rebranding from the original 10-tonne goal.
The clean-up expedition, which is being co-organised alongside Stratégie Saint-Laurent, is scheduled to conclude on August 21.
Why it Matters
The work being undertaken by Morissette and her team is not merely about cleaning the St. Lawrence River; it serves as a vital reminder of our collective responsibility to protect the environment. By actively engaging local communities in these efforts, the initiative not only addresses immediate ecological concerns but also fosters a culture of stewardship and environmental awareness. As the impacts of climate change become increasingly evident, initiatives like Mission 1,000 tonnes play a crucial role in galvanising public action and inspiring hope for a more sustainable future.
