Kayakers Clean House
Area Outfitters and Nonprofits Collect and Dispose of Trash Found Around Anacapa Island
Dozens of dolphins played tag with the boat’s bow as scenic Arch Rock passed to the right, open water occupied the left, and the foggy texture of Ventura Harbor welcomed a vessel loaded with 24 volunteers and 370 pounds of collected trash after the 5th CHI Anacapa Cleanup Day on December 14.
“The dolphins just wanted to say thank you,” Island Packers Fleet Manager Alex Brodie announced over the ship’s loudspeaker. Santa Barbara Adventure Company owner Michael Cohen took charge of the 2011 event and gathered a diverse, jovial crew of kayak outfitters, transporters, and a nonprofits to clean up trash around Anacapa Island for the National Park Service.
The National Park Service provides outfitters, like Cohen’s company, permits to use the Channel Islands for tours and outings. The federal agency smiles on projects like this, according to Cohen, but they are not necessary to maintain one’s permit. “We’re doing guided kayak tours out there all summer long, so we wanted to give something back to the Channel Islands National Park,” said Cohen.
