178 volunteers collect 334 pounds of trash from Juno Beach in August
Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s group of regular volunteers joined with others from all over the community to make a positive impact on area beaches, removing 334 pounds of trash from Juno Beach last month. Working with Loggerhead Marinelife Center and Jupiter Dive Center, a team of eight dive instructors and divemasters** removed 112 pounds of debris from a circumference of 100 feet of the Juno Beach Pier. The effort was part of a new collaboration between the two groups, who will work together to remove trash from the water surrounding the pier quarterly. The partnership is aimed at reducing the impacts of fisheries interactions with threatened and endangered sea turtles.
Earlier that week, an emergency beach cleanup was scheduled in response to Hurricane Irene. The severe weather churned up trash and blew around litter, making the beach unsafe for nesting sea turtles and hatchlings that use the area beach during nesting season through October 31st each year. With just 24 hours notice, 140 community members of all ages came together to collect 171 pounds of trash from Juno Beach. The hurricane cleanup was scheduled in addition to the organization’s regular monthly beach cleanup in which 51 pounds of trash were collected by 30 volunteers.
In total, volunteers removed 334 pounds of trash from the beach and the water, making Florida’s coastal ecosystems a safer place for sea turtles. The organization’s next beach cleanup will be held on September 17th at 8:00 a.m. in conjunction with the Ocean Conservancy’s 25th Anniversary International Coastal Cleanup. The cleanup is open to any community member of any age. The first 100 volunteers to arrive will receive a free commemorative t-shirt, and all volunteers will receive a light breakfast courtesy of Whole Foods Market. To register, email [email protected].
**Due to SCUBA certification restrictions and liability we are unable to accept volunteers wanting to assist with cleaning the Juno Beach Pier.
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About Loggerhead Marinelife Center:
Loggerhead Marinelife Center, a non-profit organization, is committed to the conservation of Florida’s coastal ecosystems through public education, research and rehabilitation with a focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles. The center features an on-site campus hospital, learning exhibits and aquariums. Situated on the world’s most important sea turtle nesting beach, Loggerhead Marinelife Center is open daily and plays host to over 200,000 visitors each year. For more information, visit www.marinelife.org or call 561-627-8280.
About Jupiter Dive Center:
For more information, visit www.jupiterdivecenter.com or call 561-745-7807.