FOUNDER OF SEA2SEE RETURNS TO GHANA TO VISIT COMMUNITIES INVOLVED IN ‘SEASTAINABLE’ WORK
rançois van den Abeele, Founder of Sea2see eyewear and namesake non-profit Sea2see Foundation, has returned to Ghana this summer to meet the communities who collaborate with the organisation and remove kilos of discarded plastic directly from beaches and rivers in the region, to protect the environment.
The Sea2see Foundation is making a significant impact in this coastal area, diverting plastic waste from the marine environment, easing pressure on ecosystems and waterways – while reducing green house gas emissions through effective resource recovery. By mitigating the adverse effects of fishing gear on oceans and marine life, they are also bringing noticeable benefits to local fishing communities.
Sea2see ‘Lake Volta’ plastic collection hub created
Van den Abeele visited Lake Volta and Mpando, a Sea2see collection hub where discarded fishing nets from nearby islands are brought and then cleaned in preparation for recycling. This stage of manual cleaning is critical, as it ensures the removal of even the smallest traces of waste that could otherwise compromise subsequent processing.
During the trip, a new Sea2see boat was also put into operation, increasing the plastic recovery capacity of the Foundation by 30%.
“By returning regularly to this region, I am able to engage with all those teams across the communities in this region of Ghana who are involved in our Sea2see mission to create a cleaner marine environment. We are already collecting 200,000 kg of plastic each year and this is set to continue with pace in 2026 as we open new collection hubs…” François van den Abeele, Founder, Sea2see
Waste collection and awareness program introduced
The waste collected in the region is transformed into a recycled material that can be used to produce high-quality products such as Sea2see eyewear while combating plastic pollution and the harmful effects of plastic waste on the sea and local beaches. It is an operation which also benefits the local communities, providing an income to families as well as increasing their own direct involvement in cleaning the environment in which they live.
Sea2see has also implemented educational awareness programs on plastic waste management for the communities, facilitated through local radio broadcasts and communication within the fishing communities.
www.sea2see.org
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