25th Annual Coastal Cleanup Saturday

Ocean Conservancy, Global Volunteers and Partners to Clean Up Our Ocean during the 25th Annual International Coastal Cleanup

The International Coastal Cleanup, taking place on September 25th this year, is the world`s largest volunteer effort to help protect the ocean. Last year, 500,000 volunteers joined their communities to clean up local beaches, lakes, and rivers with a common mission of improving the health of the ocean and waterways. On one day, volunteers removed and tallied 7.4 million pounds of debris, in 108 countries and 45 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

This year`s effort in Cedar Key is being spearheaded by the Cedar Key Aquaculture Association, City of Cedar Key Marina, Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge, Cedar Key Woman`s Club, Florida`s Nature Coast Conservancy, UF/IFAS Shellfish Extension Program, Tidewater Tours, Island Hopper, Kayak Cedar Keys, B&E Seafood and Sunset Isle RV Park. Cleanup of the Cedar Key shoreline and outlying islands will occur from 8:00 a.m. until Noon on Saturday, September 25. Volunteers are to sign-in and pick up trash bags at the Cedar Key Marina. Boat transportation provided by Tidewater Tours, Island Hopper, and the NWR to offshore keys is available to volunteers on a "first come, first serve" basis. From Noon to 2 PM, all collected garbage will be sorted and documented on Ocean Conservancy data cards. Hot dogs will be provided to all volunteers. Cold water will also be supplied, but bring your own bottle to fill as we do not want to contribute hundreds of plastic bottles to the local landfill.

In conjunction with Coastal Cleanup, the Cedar Key Aquaculture Association is initiating a cleanup effort targeting cover netting. This plastic netting is used for predator protection of clam crops. During storm events, cover netting can become dislodged and tidal currents can carry it away from the lease areas. During the week of September 25-October 1, waste bins will be located at the City Marina for clammers, boaters, or anyone to deposit recovered cover netting.

Those interested in joining this year`s ICC in Cedar Key should contact Sue Colson at 352- 543-6648, or The Ocean Conservancy at 1-800-262-FLOR.

Over the last quarter-century, the International Coastal Cleanup has grown from a single cleanup on a Texas beach to a worldwide movement to end the threat of trash in our ocean. In this span, the International Coastal Cleanup expanded to include hundreds of thousands of volunteers from around the world who have removed many millions of pounds of trash from the Earth`s ocean, lakes and waterways and documented what they found. This unwavering dedication over the years has helped to make the environment safer for wildlife and people alike. The BP oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico has outraged people who are looking for a way to help give back to the ocean and improve their communities. The 25th annual International Coastal Cleanup is a chance to do just that. The International Coastal Cleanup offers volunteers the chance to make a difference for the health of our ocean by reducing ocean pollution.

Trash is one of the most widespread pollution problems threatening our ocean and waterways and it`s entirely preventable. Marine debris is more than an eyesore. It is a threat to marine wildlife and ecosystems; and undermines tourism and economic activity. Our ocean is stressed from disasters like the BP Deepwater Horizon spill, pollution, overfishing, habitat loss, rising sea temperatures and acidification. Keeping our ocean free from trash is one of the easiest ways we can make the ocean more resilient to these combined threats.

Each year during the International Coastal Cleanup, volunteers from around the world spend a few hours removing trash and debris from beaches, lakes, rivers and other waterways keeping track of every piece of trash they find. Ocean Conservancy uses that information to produce the world`s only annual country-by-country, state-by-state index of the problem of marine debris. Data collected by dedicated volunteers inform solutions to the threat of trash in our ocean. By understanding sources of marine debris, we can work together to solve this problem.