Bohnsack, K.

The southeast Florida marine debris reporting and removal program: Third Annual Southeast Florida Marine Debris Clean-Up. Summary

2013

Miami, FL

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Fishing, Diving, and Other Uses Project 29/30/32 Year 3

20

"During the summer of 2013 divers across southeast Florida had fun underwater while actively contributing to coral reef conservation during the 3rd Annual Southeast Florida Reef Cleanup, hosted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Coral Reef Conservation Program (FDEP CRCP) and the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI). In partnership with twelve local dive charter boats, reef cleanups were held in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties on July 20th, June 29th, and August 3rd, respectively, where a total of 146 divers helped to remove marine debris from the local coral reefs (Figure 1). In Martin County, FDEP CRCP and SEFCRI supported the Pecks Lake Reef Dive Cleanup on July 27th. This event was coordinated by the Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast and the Port Salerno Commercial Fishing Dock Authority in conjunction with the 6th Annual Treasure Coast Waterway Cleanup, and included participation by over 60 additional divers. The 3rd Annual Southeast Florida Reef Cleanup was coordinated through SEFCRIs Marine Debris Reporting and Removal Program, which seeks to raise awareness about the causes and consequences of marine debris, minimize its impacts through cleanup efforts, and develop strategies to reduce the amount of debris entering the marine environment. In addition to organizing yearly reef cleanups throughout southeast Florida, this program asks local divers to remove small debris on a regular basis and, as part of the Southeast Florida Action Network (SEAFAN) marine incident reporting system, encourages them to report all debris encountered or removed from southeast Floridas reefs by calling the SEAFAN hotline at (866) 770-SEFL or filling out an online form at www.SEAFAN.net. The fishing debris collected during the 3rd Annual Southeast Florida Reef Cleanup was overwhelmingly hook-and-line gear from recreational users, which is commonly lost when it snags on the bottom structure and breaks. Damaged line can also accidently become lost from the boat or even intentionally discarded. Education and outreach efforts can increase awareness among fishermen of the impacts associated with lost gear, encourage greater participation in monofilament recycling programs, and provide recommendations for reducing gear loss. Although not recovered during this particular event, abandoned or lost commercial fishing gear, including nets and traps, are also a conspicuous source of marine debris, which has the potential to impact coral reefs and their associated marine life. As such, it is important to include commercial fishers in education and outreach campaigns, develop partnerships, and encourage their active contribution to achieve the shared goal of protecting marine resources by both preventing and recovering lost gear. Given the variation in the types and distribution of debris, a combination of several strategies may be necessary to effectively reduce marine debris in southeast Florida."

Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative

Funded by a Coral Reef Conservation Program grant NA13NOS4820015 from the NOS Office for Coastal Management and from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection

NOS Office for Coastal Management

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

NA13NOS4820015