18- From Refugee Shipwreck to Ocean Cleanup w/ Daniel Angelis

Today's episode is all about beach cleanups, sharing the story of the coastal and marine management expert and founder Daniel Angelis, who got started during the refugee crisis. Daniel shares his journey of how the refugee boats impacted his home island Lesbos in Greece, and how they dealt with the trash. 

He's opening up about leading ocean cleanups and tackling plastic pollution along some of the world’s most beautiful yet fragile coastlines. In Lesbos, environmental conservation met humanitarian aid as more than one refugee boat arrived on the shores. His efforts transformed coastal cleanups into missions of social responsibility, providing listeners with a unique look at how travel, environmental action, and human compassion intersect.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Coastal trash due to the refugee crisis on Lesbos: What happened to the stranded refugee boats, how to recycle all the ocean waste after this humanitarian crisis
• Microplastic and beach cleanup efforts: The growing issue of plastic pollution on coastlines and how it affects marine life.
• Coastal cleanup do's and don'ts: What to keep in mind before going on a beach cleanup, what to avoid
• Ocean cleanup: How to clean the ocean with a team of free divers and ships, how to manage waste found in the ocean
• "One Beach at a Time" NGO: Daniel’s mission and how his organization combines ocean conservation with social responsibility.

Whether you’re passionate about ocean cleanup, curious about the intersection of travel and sustainability, or interested in the refugee crisis, this episode offers powerful stories and insights that will inspire you to make a difference.

Connect with Angelis;
onebeachatatime.org
instagram.com/angelis.daniel

Where is your trash traveling (plastic tracker)?
theoceancleanup.com/plastic-tracker