Love of nature a catalyst to clean up in qathet region

Dev Percey moved back to her hometown only two months ago, but has been on a cleanup mission ever since.

The love of the natural world and her keen eye has spurred Percey to bring a bucket, gloves and phone camera to places such as Myrtle Rocks, Willingdon Beach and Third Beach in Townsite, in order to pick up trash left behind on the beach. Cigarette butts are plenty and so are plastic wrappers and other human-created refuse that's potentially harmful to sea and land creatures, and an eye sore for people visiting.

"One of my inspirations is doctor Sylvia Earle," said Percey. "She's a marine scientist and National Geographic explorer."

Earle, a world-renowned expert on marine biology, holds the record for deepest walk on the seafloor and is the first woman to lead the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 

"I'm a big shark lover and she [Earle] thinks a lot of the way I do," said Percey. "I haven't quite made it to a plant-based diet yet, but I'm very good at not eating meat every day." 

The well-watched Mission Blue documentary follows Earle on her mission to save the world's oceans from threats such as overfishing and toxic waste; it has inspired many to rethink how people eat from and treat the ocean.

"I'm a nature nerd," said Percey. "I'm crazy about otters, but one of my favourite moments in Victoria was when I had a few orca encounters; it was amazing." 

Percey lived in the province's capital city of Victoria for many years, but moved back to qathet recently to be with her family and re-explore the natural spaces here.

I started [cleaning up beaches] with an environmental group in Victoria," said Percey. "I got fired up by a pastor at a Pentecostal church who said, ‘You can't save the environment, God's in control,’ so I got angry, grabbed my bucket and started cleaning the beaches everywhere, all over Victoria. It was amazing."

Percey is connected with Surfrider, a foundation dedicated to protecting beaches and oceans, but currently, she is going out on cleanup missions independently.

"I've gone to Willingdon Beach, Donkerlsey and Palm Beach, and if I don't have my bucket it drives me crazy," said Percey. "I have also gone to Powell Lake, and I can tell you the lake is covered with rope and fishing line."

When Percey goes out on cleanup missions she also brings her phone to take photos of creatures she spots, such as a sea anemone engulfing a crab in its tentacles or a starfish in the seaweed.

"I'm really into photography," said Percey. "I started when I was living in Mexico; I worked at a turtle camp."

Turtle camps are dedicated to the conservation of sea turtles around Mexico's Pacific coastal areas.

"I bring a bear bell, horn, gloves and a little tray for cigarette butts," said Percey. "There are no garbage cans at Third Beach but there is a sign I like at the seawalk, about not leaving garbage around."

Percey thinks there needs to be more public awareness efforts in qathet about not leaving trash on beaches and trails, and more receptacles around town could help mitigate garbage being left around.

"I also worked for the Green Party for many years and started to learn about environmental issues," said Percey. "When I worked at the turtle camp I discovered my passion for taking care of the ocean." 

Percey said she can't wait for the water to be warm enough to swim in and will continue to visit local beaches with her bucket and gloves. To see Percey's many photos of sea creatures, go to her Facebook page at facebook.com/dev.percey or follow her hashtag: #MyOwnBeachCleanUp.

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