What began as an ambitious goal set quietly at the start of the year has become a major milestone for Cape Town-based environmental organisation Save a Fishie, which has removed an impressive 10 010 kg of litter during its Coast 2 Coast 2026 campaign around South Africa.

Led by founder Zoë Prinsloo, the campaign ended on a high note after a final push through Knysna and George, which saw Prinsloo, her mother and local volunteers collect the additional waste needed to surpass their 10-ton target.

The achievement marks another significant step forward for the annual clean-up initiative, which has grown steadily since its launch in 2023, when 3,6 tons of litter were collected. The total increased to 5,005 tons in 2024 and 7,7 tons in 2025, before reaching 10,01 tons this year.

For Prinsloo the final day was about more than reaching a number. It demonstrated what determination and community involvement could achieve, even when the target seemed out of reach.

“We didn’t achieve it by giving up when the beaches looked clean,” she said in a social media post celebrating the campaign’s conclusion, “when volunteers didn’t arrive, when we were exhausted, or when the numbers seemed impossible. We just kept going.”

A final push to reach the target

The team began its final day needing to collect 274 kg to reach the 10-ton milestone.

Their first stop was Coney Glen in Knysna, where Prinsloo and her mother tackled litter hidden in bushes, collecting bottles, takeaway containers, cigarette boxes and other discarded waste. Two municipal employees also joined them for part of the clean-up.

The effort yielded 50 kg, leaving the team with another 224 kg to collect.

On their way out of Knysna, the pair stopped at a lookout point near a small pier, where they initially began collecting visible litter and what appeared to be debris from a vehicle accident.

However, it was what they discovered beyond a corner, hidden between bushes, that made the biggest difference.

The area had become an illegal dumping ground, littered with bottles, household waste, batteries, food jars, takeaway containers, clothing and shoes.

Working against the clock, Prinsloo and her mother filled 13 bags, collecting 105 kg of waste. They then tackled another nearby section, removing a further 47 kg in four bags. In roughly an hour, the pair had collected 152 kg.

Despite the exhausting effort, they still needed to reach George for the campaign’s final clean-up.

Girl Guides help seal the milestone

In George, the team was joined by an enthusiastic group of Girl Guides who helped with the final push towards the target.

With 72 kg still needed, the volunteers searched the beach and surrounding bushes, where they repeatedly encountered discarded alcohol bottles.

Although the beach itself appeared relatively clean, the surrounding vegetation told a different story.

The final weighing brought the campaign to its long-awaited conclusion. After collecting 71 kg, the team weighed another batch, bringing the final tally to 79 kg and then 82 kg.

The additional waste pushed the campaign beyond its target, with 10 010 kg collected across Coast 2 Coast 2026.

Prinsloo said she was proud of her mother, the volunteers who joined the clean-ups and everyone who chose to contribute to protecting the coastline.

“That extra 10 kg might look like a small number, but getting to this milestone means EVERYTHING to me. At the start of the year, this was just a quiet goal. Today, it is a reality,” she said.

Building a movement beyond beach clean-ups

Save a Fishie’s latest achievement builds on years of work to tackle plastic pollution, remove harmful waste from coastal environments and encourage communities to take responsibility for their surroundings.

The organisation has grown from its early clean-up efforts into a broader environmental awareness and education initiative, involving volunteers, schools, families and community organisations.

For 2026 Coast 2 Coast adopted a new structure, dividing the campaign into six focused clean-up trips throughout the year to reach more communities and make participation easier.

Earlier this year, Prinsloo and her team continued highlighting the dangers of plastic pollution, including tiny plastic nurdles found along the coast. These pellets can enter waterways and marine ecosystems, posing risks to wildlife.

The campaign has also repeatedly uncovered the less visible effects of littering, from disposable nappies and plastic waste to discarded fishing-related items and household rubbish.

For Prinsloo, every item removed matters because it represents one less piece of waste that could harm marine life.

Her message has remained consistent throughout the campaign: individual actions, when combined, can make a measurable difference.

The final day also highlighted a troubling reality. Even in areas known for their well-maintained beaches, rubbish can accumulate out of sight in bushes and informal dumping spots, where it may go unnoticed until volunteers intervene.

‘That’s what Save a Fishie does’

As the campaign drew to a close, Prinsloo thanked everyone who had supported Coast 2 Coast 2026, particularly her mother, who stood beside her through the demanding days, changing weather and last-minute efforts to reach the goal.

She also recognised the volunteers who gave their time to help remove litter from beaches and surrounding areas.

The 10-ton milestone is a substantial increase from the campaign’s first-year total of 3,6 tons, reflecting the initiative’s continued growth and the impact of collective action. “Because that’s what Save a Fishie does,” Prinsloo said.

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