The Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) Marine Debris & Plastics Program was awarded one of
eleven SNEP Watershed Implementation Grants this year to locate, remove and properly
dispose of lost fishing gear and other debris from the shores of Cuttyhunk Island.
During the week of April 2, 2023, CCS staff, volunteers from Cornell University, island residents
and artists from the CCS Beach Brigade removed hundreds of lobster traps, rope pieces and
other items from the rocky shoreline, documented each item, then loaded most debris into
containers that were hauled off-island for disposal or recycling.
Over 15,700 pounds of debris was collected that week. Some materials were set aside for use in
construction or artwork, including bricks, concrete, wire hoops, plastic lobster trap gear, rope
and netting. Several hundred pounds of the collected debris made its way into artwork now on
exhibit in New Bedford and soon to be displayed on the island where it was originally found.
Artists Mark Adams (Provincetown MA), Megan Chiango (Newburyport MA), Constance Old
(New Canaan CT), and Sarah Thornington (West Yarmouth MA) — created works with or
inspired by the fishing gear and other plastic debris collected during the cleanup. Students from
Cornell University created a web portal showcasing their art works in video, audio, sculpture
and written word.
The art pieces make up an exhibit called “Cuttyhunk ’23 Art Collaboration” at the New Bedford Whaling
National Historical Park at 33 William Street (a block up from the New Bedford Whaling Museum) through
August 10, 2023. They will then travel to Cuttyhunk Island with the project team for a presentation to the
island community on August 11th, followed by a collaborative island-wide cleanup on August 12th.
For information on the NBWHNP exhibit, please visit their website. To learn more about the
Cuttyhunk art exhibit or cleanup, please see the Cuttyhunk Climate Action Network website.
This project is supported by Southeast New England Program (SNEP) Watershed Implementation
Grants. SNEP Watershed Implementation Grants are funded by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) through a collaboration with Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE). For
more on SNEP Watershed Implementation Grants, see www.snepgrants.org
Photo: Lindsay Compton, Megan Chiango, Laura Ludwig, Sarah Thornington, Constance Old and
Mark Adams with Megan’s paintings in the background and Constance’s rope in the foreground.
