Fifth grade Aspengrove School student Coco Reagh collected more than 300 pieces of marine debris in the Nanoose Bay area to give a snapshot of how much marine trash is in our ocean. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

nice catch

Nanoose Bay girl turns marine trash into statue for school project

Jun 8, 2020 | 5:25 AM

NANOOSE BAY — A local fifth grade student’s year-end project was a slam dunk.

Ten-year-old Aspengrove School student Coco Reagh collected marine junk to create an over six-foot tall figure of debris.

Reagh got the idea when she noticed debris in their local marina, which she said negatively impacts our environment and wildlife.

“Try to stop putting garbage out your windows, because it will go into the water eventually,” Reagh said, while showcasing her 300 piece, three month long project.

The three large pieces feature a prawn trap, large Styrofoam chunk for the head, and an enlarged plastic barrel to form the base.

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There’s even plastic bits to form facial features.

Coco’s project was recently shared virtually as part of her final exhibition project to conclude her primary years at the Lantzville private school.

Ali Reagh said her daughter put a lot of work into collecting the wide range of junk, which included fishing gear, electronics, chip bags, pop cans, electronics and sandals.

Their family visited area beaches and small islands in Nanoose Bay, finding no shortage of material.

“She’d get on her paddle board and go in, usually one of us would go with her and take buckets and clean up. Most of it was done on her own,” Ali Reagh said. “The big blue barrel surprisingly she got all by herself.”

It’s unclear what the future holds for the statue beyond his current spot in the Reagh garage, but Coco and Ali said the plan is to properly dispose of him eventually.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes