CBA, City of Destin, City of Fort Walton Beach, FedEx & Nick's Seafood Restaurant are partnering to host an Earth Day Coastal Cleanup effort to reduce the negative impacts of marine debris (trash) along coastal ecosystems in Okaloosa County, FL.
Cleanup efforts will be held at the site locations listed below from 8:00am-10:00am, Friday, April 22, 2016.
Norriego Point Public Beach Access
Gulf Shore Drive (end of Holiday Isle), Destin, FL 32541
CBA and the City of Destin, FL are co-hosting a site location at Norriego Point Public Beach Access. The clean-up will be held from 8:00am-10:00am. Volunteers are asked to arrive promptly at 8am and report at the back of the parking lot by the green dumpsters.
Liza Jackson Park
338 Miracle Strip Parkway, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
CBA and the City of Fort Walton Beach, FL are co-hosting a site location at Liza Jackson Park. The clean-up will be held from 8:00am-10:00am. Volunteers should go to the park's WEST entrance.
Volunteers are required to wear closed-toe shoes, weather appropriate clothing and bring gloves. All other clean-up supplies will be provided to volunteers upon arrival to their site location. Please arrive early to ensure that you receive proper instruction for the clean-up effort. All volunteers are participating at their own risk. All entities involved in coordinating the clean-up effort are not held liable in the event of injury. First-aid will be availble in the event of minor injury. Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA)
After reviewing the startling results from the International Coastal Cleanup, a collaborative effort with the Ocean Conservancy which took place this past September, the need to expand the annual effort to a bi-annual event was necessary.
The partnership between the four entities will host two sites- Norriego Point Public Beach Access and Liza Jackson Park, on Friday, April 22, 2016, from 8am-10am. Public participation is welcome and encouraged.
“Marine debris is a real issue for coastal environments. What is conveniently left behind by locals and visitors along coastal shorelines, has become a serious inconvenience to life and the stability of the marine ecosystems that are affected by it. In fact, marine debris is one of the most widespread sources of pollution that marine environments face today. Of those pollutants, consumer plastics take the lead. In a recent report, it was estimated that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the world’s oceans and waterways than fish (by weight). That is the scary truth of the negative impact imposed by marine debris.” Said Sarah Davis, Outreach Coordinator for CBA.
Of the approximately 9,500 individual pieces of marine debris removed from the three sites during the September Coastal Cleanup effort- Norriego Point Public Beach Access, Liza Jackson Park and Bay Flats Recreation Area, 33% of the debris was comprised of consumer plastics. A close runner-up to discarded cigarette butts, which comprised 55% of the debris removed. Cigarette butts take 10-12 years to decompose in a marine ecosystem.
Volunteers are encouraged to wear closed-toed shoes, weather appropriate clothing, and are asked to bring a water bottle and gloves to the cleanup. Additional supplies for the effort will be provided to volunteers upon arrival to their site location. Volunteers are asked to arrive a few minutes early to ensure proper instruction and preparedness for the cleanup process.
CBA is a local charity who is responsible for maintaining, and spreading awareness for, the health and sustainability of local waterways. CBA promotes water stewardship within the Choctawhatchee Watershed, growing the network of supporters who join in the mission to provide a future for these natural resources.
For more information regarding the Earth Day Coastal Cleanup at Norriego Point Public Beach Access or Liza Jackson Park, or to schedule an interview, please contact Sarah Davis- Outreach Coordinator for CBA at daviss26@nwfsc.edu.
Cleanup efforts will be held at the site locations listed below from 8:00am-10:00am, Friday, April 22, 2016.
Norriego Point Public Beach Access
Gulf Shore Drive (end of Holiday Isle), Destin, FL 32541
CBA and the City of Destin, FL are co-hosting a site location at Norriego Point Public Beach Access. The clean-up will be held from 8:00am-10:00am. Volunteers are asked to arrive promptly at 8am and report at the back of the parking lot by the green dumpsters.
Liza Jackson Park
338 Miracle Strip Parkway, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
CBA and the City of Fort Walton Beach, FL are co-hosting a site location at Liza Jackson Park. The clean-up will be held from 8:00am-10:00am. Volunteers should go to the park's WEST entrance.
Volunteers are required to wear closed-toe shoes, weather appropriate clothing and bring gloves. All other clean-up supplies will be provided to volunteers upon arrival to their site location. Please arrive early to ensure that you receive proper instruction for the clean-up effort. All volunteers are participating at their own risk. All entities involved in coordinating the clean-up effort are not held liable in the event of injury. First-aid will be availble in the event of minor injury. Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA)
After reviewing the startling results from the International Coastal Cleanup, a collaborative effort with the Ocean Conservancy which took place this past September, the need to expand the annual effort to a bi-annual event was necessary.
The partnership between the four entities will host two sites- Norriego Point Public Beach Access and Liza Jackson Park, on Friday, April 22, 2016, from 8am-10am. Public participation is welcome and encouraged.
“Marine debris is a real issue for coastal environments. What is conveniently left behind by locals and visitors along coastal shorelines, has become a serious inconvenience to life and the stability of the marine ecosystems that are affected by it. In fact, marine debris is one of the most widespread sources of pollution that marine environments face today. Of those pollutants, consumer plastics take the lead. In a recent report, it was estimated that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the world’s oceans and waterways than fish (by weight). That is the scary truth of the negative impact imposed by marine debris.” Said Sarah Davis, Outreach Coordinator for CBA.
Of the approximately 9,500 individual pieces of marine debris removed from the three sites during the September Coastal Cleanup effort- Norriego Point Public Beach Access, Liza Jackson Park and Bay Flats Recreation Area, 33% of the debris was comprised of consumer plastics. A close runner-up to discarded cigarette butts, which comprised 55% of the debris removed. Cigarette butts take 10-12 years to decompose in a marine ecosystem.
Volunteers are encouraged to wear closed-toed shoes, weather appropriate clothing, and are asked to bring a water bottle and gloves to the cleanup. Additional supplies for the effort will be provided to volunteers upon arrival to their site location. Volunteers are asked to arrive a few minutes early to ensure proper instruction and preparedness for the cleanup process.
CBA is a local charity who is responsible for maintaining, and spreading awareness for, the health and sustainability of local waterways. CBA promotes water stewardship within the Choctawhatchee Watershed, growing the network of supporters who join in the mission to provide a future for these natural resources.
For more information regarding the Earth Day Coastal Cleanup at Norriego Point Public Beach Access or Liza Jackson Park, or to schedule an interview, please contact Sarah Davis- Outreach Coordinator for CBA at daviss26@nwfsc.edu.