Last weekend, Stony Brook Southampton's community took part in the annual beach clean-up event on Warners Island in Shinnecock Bay. This initiative involved boarding the RV Peconic to cross the eastern part of Shinnecock Bay and clean up the island, removing various forms of trash to improve the local coastal environment. This effort aims to protect marine and coastal wildlife.
Participants braved strong winds but were met with sunny weather, providing opportunities to see seals, collect shells, and birdwatch, although two students were affected by gull droppings. Despite their efforts, a tire remains on the island and will be addressed in future clean-ups.
This clean-up has been a tradition for the Southampton campus community for the last 12 years, part of the Town of Southampton’s Great East End Cleanup. The event is co-sponsored by the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) and Southampton Student Life.