OVERVIEW:
- Founded in 1995.
- large-scale coastal and underwater cleanups.
- working with municipalities, schools, companies, and volunteers from Iceland and abroad.
- education and community engagement: school visits, workshops, etc.
Blái Herinn, known in English as The Blue Army of Iceland, is one of the country’s leading organizations in the fight against marine litter. Founded in 1995 by a group of divers, the organisation began by cleaning underwater sites along Iceland’s coast — and has since grown into a national movement for cleaner seas and shorelines.
Blái Herinn organizes large-scale coastal and underwater clean-ups, working with municipalities, schools, companies, and volunteers from Iceland and abroad. Over the years, their teams have removed more than 1,500 tonnes of waste from beaches, fjords, harbours, and sea floors. The collected debris includes fishing gear, plastics, tyres, and other materials carried by ocean currents or left behind by human activity.
Beyond cleanups, the Blue Army focuses strongly on education and community engagement. They visit schools, host workshops, and involve local residents and tourists in cleanup actions, showing how individual efforts contribute to ocean protection. Their message is simple but powerful: every piece of litter removed prevents further harm to marine life and ecosystems.
By combining hands-on cleanup work with awareness and cooperation, Blái Herinn has become a cornerstone of Iceland’s marine litter efforts — proving that long-term impact begins with local action and dedicated people.
Accomplishments
- over 30 to 40 different projects each year:
- beach cleanups, school visits, seminars, company visits
- more than 9600 volunteers with 76.000 manhours
- over 1550 tons of trash removed
Tools and Approach
SEEDS combines practical action with education. Its workcamps include workshops on sustainability, waste management, and the circular economy. Volunteers often document their findings through photography and storytelling, helping communicate environmental challenges in creative ways. The organisation also collaborates with local partners, municipalities, and schools to expand its reach and ensure long-term impact.