SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment Clean Up Beaches From Coast To Coast

Orlando, Fla. (Sept. 24, 2010) – During the International Coastal Cleanup this Saturday, Sept. 25, hundreds of employees of the 10 parks of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment -- including the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens parks -- will clean three U.S. coasts and tackle one of the most pervasive pollution problems threatening the world’s oceans, lakes and rivers: trash.

Park-sponsored cleanup events are planned in Florida , Virginia , Texas and California .

Trash is a constant threat to marine wildlife and their aquatic habitats. SeaWorld’s Rescue Team actively rescues manatees, sea lions, seals and sea turtles that have either become entangled in discarded fishing line or sick from ingesting human-made objects.

“Our animal experts see firsthand everyday the impact trash can have on wildlife,” said Jim Atchison, chief operating officer for SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment.” “The International Coastal Cleanup allows all of us to be part of the solution before it impacts animals.”

For more than a decade, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment has collaborated with the Ocean Conservancy in support of the International Coastal Cleanup – the world's largest volunteer cleanup event of its kind. Since 1986 thousands of volunteers from around the globe have cleared more than 100 million pounds of trash from 170,000 miles of shorelines, rivers, lakes and wetlands. Last year nearly 500,000 volunteers collected more than 7.4 million pounds of trash in 108 countries.

SeaWorld’s commitment to cleaning up oceans and waterways extends beyond the International Coastal Cleanup with additional year-round employee efforts targeting local beaches, shorelines, lakefronts and riverfronts.

For more information on International Coastal Cleanup, volunteers can visit www.seaworldparksblog.com or www.oceanconservancy.org.