Cleaning up Jacksonville’s coastline

Jacksonville Beach, FL — Jacksonville Beach was spruced up Saturday morning, thanks to some Fletcher High School students and volunteers.

“I got a shoe, a sandal with barnacles covering it. That must mean it was in the ocean for quite a while,” said Fletcher student Gabriel Davis.

“I found a green tea bottle,” said Fletcher student Ashlynd Roberts.

They were quick to show off what they found hiding in the sand on International Coastal Cleanup Day.

People of all ages showed up at the beach to do their part.

“Trash doesn’t disintegrate, so the littlest pieces, it’s stuff that’s not going to be on the earth. So it’s beneficial in little ways,” Olivia Spradlin said.

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Collected trash included cigarette butts, coffee cups, styrofoam, and plastic straws.

“I have seen hatchlings get caught in an accumulation of stuff,” Kevin Brown of Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol said.

Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol officials organized the cleanup with other organizations. Brown wants to bring awareness to the smallest of plastics.

“These are the things that do not biodegrade in the ecosystem. They can cause damage,” Brown said.

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According to the Ocean Conservancy, food-related items like takeout containers, straws and plastic silverware make up 60% of the items most commonly collected.

Other cleanups took place at parks like Blue Cypress Park, Boone Park, and Castaway Island Preserve.

You can learn more about International Coastal Cleanup Day by clicking here.

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