Seawatchers

Seawatchers
Denmark

Denmark

For nearly two decades years, the Seawatchers campaign has been a familiar sight on Danish coastlines. The campaign was started by the Danish Navy in 2006, and today mobilises 30 000 members every year.

Originally set up to combat oil spills, today Seawatchers has moved to tackle marine litter on Danish coasts and beaches. Its members include all kinds of recreational sailors, surfers, anglers, and divers, all of whom respond to marine litter events and organise waste collection activities, using the distinctive Seawatchers “sea waste” collection bags. And with 50 free bag dispensers along the Danish coasts and 450 delivery locations, volunteers always have a sea waste bag to hand. The Seawatchers campaign functions all year round, 365 days a year, summer and winter.

The underlying ideology of the campaign is to try to create an attitude change among those who volunteer, to empower them to keep the Danish coastlines and oceans clean of marine litter, and to be an ambassador for the campaign’s goals and aims. It is centred on positive action and on education, giving its volunteer members the opportunity, together with the Danish Navy, to contribute a larger effort with individual actions.

The campaign’s strength lies in its broad membership base. Yacht harbours, maritime enthusiasts, and other stakeholders actively support the campaign by distributing bags and recruiting new Seawatchers.

Since its inception, the campaign has fostered a sense of community and shared purpose among its members, in a volunteer-driven, collaborative model which brings tangible results. Seawatchers feel connected to the wider Danish sustainability mission and the work of the Navy in supporting it. They receive seasonal information packages with magazines and personal letters from the Chief Admiral of the Danish Navy, to recognise their contributions.

Volunteers feel that their actions matter, creating a ripple effect that extends beyond immediate cleanup activities and enhances long-term commitment to environmental causes. Seawatchers has built a diverse, thriving community of volunteers united in a common goal – to actively participate in Denmark’s marine conservation efforts.

Find out more about the project (external link)