COASTAL CLEANUP : Thousands of beach-goers will dive into the task of cleaning up the shoreline.

Helping the environment gets a lot of lip service these days, but on Saturday, thousands of South Bay volunteers are expected to put their muscle where their mouth is and join in a regional cleanup of local beaches.

Event organizers predict that more than 6,000 local volunteers will participate in the eighth annual Coastal Cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon at a dozen South Bay sites and 19 other locations along the Los Angeles coastline.

“It’s a tangible way for people to do something to clean up the environment,” said Susan McCabe, who is helping coordinate the event locally for the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project.

Last year’s event drew more than 4,000 volunteers, who bagged more than eight tons of garbage, three tons of which were recyclable. As before, detailed information will be kept on the kinds of debris collected to aid in formulating anti-pollution laws.

Sponsored by the state Coastal Commission, the cleanup effort is being organized locally by the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project, with Heal the Bay and the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors. A 54-member coalition of business, government and residents, the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project is charged with developing and implementing a plan to restore and protect Santa Monica Bay.

Man-made debris in the Santa Monica basin continues to pose threats to wildlife as well as ruining the natural beauty of the coastline, say organizers. Common items such as six-pack rings, fishing line and other plastics can entangle and kill sea birds, fish and marine mammals.

Each year volunteers collect more trash in the cleanup than in the year before, but organizers think the public is becoming more careful about littering.

“My personal feeling is that there is much less beach litter. You just don’t see the blatant throwing down of trash you used to see,” McCabe said.

Volunteers are asked to bring old shoes, gloves, sunscreen and a picnic lunch. Trash bags, recycling bags and data cards to record collections will be provided.

At many South Bay sites, volunteers will learn more about the environment after the cleanup. At Cabrillo Marine Museum, 3720 Stephen White Drive in San Pedro, several short environmental films will be shown to volunteers.

At Abalone Cove, 5970 Palos Verdes Drive South in Rancho Palos Verdes, the Abalone Cove Docents will provide information about geology, tide pools, plants and animals.

On Saturday night, Heal the Bay and the Sports Connection/Spectrum Club are having their second annual “Beach Bash” to raise money for Heal the Bay research and education. More than 1,200 guests are expected at the event, which raised $20,000 last year.

Entertainment will include live music by the “Sax Offenders,” singing karaoke tunes with local sports figures and celebrities, and dancing. Guests will be eligible for raffle prizes, including two trips for two, one to Hawaii and one to Mexico.

Sites where cleanup crews will meet at 9 a.m. are:

* Ballona Lagoon, Playa del Rey (parking lot at end of Pacific Avenue)

* Ballona Wetlands, Playa del Rey (Gordon’s Market on Culver Boulevard)

* Dockweiler Beach, Playa del Rey (north side of Imperial Highway)

* Manhattan Beach (mouth of the pier, south side)

* Hermosa Beach (mouth of pier)

* Redondo Beach (south side of pier)

* Torrance Beach (parking lot)

* Malaga Cove, Palos Verdes Estates (on the beach)

* Madrona Marsh, Torrance

* Royal Palms Beach, San Pedro (on beach)

* Abalone Cove, Rancho Palos Verdes (on beach)

* Cabrillo Beach, San Pedro (Cabrillo Marine Museum)

For information on the coastal cleanup, call the Department of Beaches and Harbors, (310) 546-8854. For information on the Beach Bash, the party to benefit Heal the Bay, call (310) 643-6878. Party held at the Sports Connection/Spectrum Club, 2250 Park Place, El Segundo; 8 p.m. Saturday; tickets $20 before event, $30 at the door.