FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 18, 2019
DEP Partners with 4ocean
for Coastal Cleanup at Bahia Honda State Park
~Coastal cleanups aim to reduce plastic pollution and improve Florida's water quality~
 DEP Secretary Noah Valenstein joined 4ocean and staff at Bahia Honda State Park to remove debris during this weekend's coastal cleanup.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Florida Park Service partnered with 4ocean for a coastal cleanup event at Bahia Honda State Park on March 16. Nearly 500 volunteers participated in the cleanup, resulting in a significant amount of debris removed from park waterways and shorelines.
"It was a great opportunity to be a part of the cleanup event at Bahia Honda State Park this weekend," said DEP Secretary Noah Valenstein. "Marine debris plagues our waterways, and the department's partnership with 4ocean is an excellent example of how we can come together and improve water quality for the benefit of Florida's environment."
The community-based volunteer event focused on the high debris areas throughout the park and neighboring Scout Key, resulting in the collection and removal of 2,653 bottle caps, 603 plastic water bottles, 140 plastic bags, 103 plastic straws, 65 buoys and more. In addition to the cleanup, local organizations including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Coral Restoration Foundation, Reef Relief, Girl Scouts and more were present at the event to educate volunteers and visitors on ocean conservation and impacts of marine debris.
“We’re proud to be working alongside DEP, the Florida State Park System and NOAA to help clean the coastlines of the Florida Keys, while raising awareness about the ocean plastic crisis,” said 4ocean International Operations Supervisor Joe Land.
Marine debris is any man-made, discarded material that enters the marine environment. Most trash comes from land-based sources, sometimes hundreds of miles away from the coast. Trash on the ground is swept into inland waterways by rain or wind, where it will then make its way into the ocean through rivers and streams. Debris in the ocean can spread invasive species, become navigational hazards, introduce toxic pollutants, endanger human health, and injure or kill wildlife. Plastic debris discarded into waterways can break down into smaller bits, but will never fully degrade.
Learn more about DEP's Marine Debris Reporting and Removal Program and take the pledge to #SkipTheStraw.
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