2,000 kilometres, 1,000 tonnes of trash: Quebec group leads 16-day shoreline cleanup

By Morgan Lowrie As a marine biologist, Lyne Morissette grew tired of the “doom and gloom” of passively describing the impact of pollution on whales, turtles, and the rest of the wildlife inhabiting the St. Lawrence River. So, about eight years ago, she co-created an initiative with the modest goal of collecting 10 tonnes of trash along the shorelines of the river and seaway. This year, Morissette and a bus full of scientists, divers and volunteers are spending 16 days travelling some 2,000 kilometres up and down the river, where they’re teaming up with local volunteers and organizations on sh…