Goal: Clean Seas Florida Keys
What is Goal: Clean Seas Florida Keys?
Marine debris is one of the most widespread and persistent forms of pollution affecting the world's ocean and coastal waters. Goal: Clean Seas Florida Keys is a community-led program developed in the wake of Hurricane Irma in 2017 to address the threat of marine debris to ecosystems within Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation are working with local tour operators and other businesses to identify and remove marine debris throughout the Florida Keys.
In its first year, the Goal: Clean Seas Florida Keys initiative removed more than 67,000 pounds of marine debris from sanctuary waters.Many organizations and individuals have supported these marine debris removal efforts. Thanks to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council marine debris working group members, NOAA Marine Debris Program, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Artificial Reefs International, CRB Geological & Environmental Services Inc., Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen's Association, Florida Keys Dive Center, Florida Park Service, Florida Sea Grant, History of Diving Museum, Mote Marine Lab, National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI), Green Diver Initiative, Project Aware Foundation, Rainbow Reef Dive Center, Florida Bay Outfitters and Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF). Thank you Monroe County Solid Waste Management for supporting marine debris disposal.
Get Involved!
You can play a key role in helping Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary stay healthy and resilient.
To learn more about becoming a volunteer, please sign up for volunteer program updates by visiting this link, or visit one of our offices:
| Key West Office Nancy Foster Environmental Complex 33 East Quay Road Key West, FL 33040 305-809-4700 FAX: 305-293-5011 |
Key Largo Office 95230 Overseas Highway Key Largo, FL 33037 305-852-7717 FAX: 305-853-0877 |
Volunteers participate in a kayak cleanup to remove marine debris from mangrove shoreline in the sanctuary. Credit: Jessica Hogan
Participate in a cleanup dive. Contact one of these Goal: Clean Seas Florida Keys permitted dive shops or organizations to book a dive.
- Amoray Dive Center
- Conch Republic Marine Army
- The Dive Shop at Ocean Reef
- Dive N2 Life
- Finz Dive Center
- Florida Keys Dive Center
- Forever Young Charter Company
- Horizon Divers
- Island Ventures
- Key Dives
- Lost Reef Adventures
- Rainbow Reef Dive Center
- Silent World Dive Center
- Pirates Cove Watersports
- Quiescence
- Red Hospitality and Leisure
- Sail Fish Scuba
- Sea Base, Boy Scouts of America
- Sea Dwellers
- Southern Satisfaction
A diver participates in an underwater marine debris cleanup as a part of Goal: Clean Seas Florida Keys. Credit: Aquashotsphotography.com
Report Marine Debris Sightings. Go to www.mote.org/cocean and click on "Report an Observation" or contact Cory Walter, Project Coordinator, (305) 395-8730 (call or text), cwalter@mote.org.
If your dive shop or organization would like to lead underwater cleanups within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, contact Marlies.Tumolo@noaa.gov, 305-434-9385.
Blue Star Diving operators are eligible to apply for financial assistance from The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation to participate in Goal: Clean Seas Florida Keys.
Materials
- Goal: Clean Seas Florida Keys Protocols for Underwater Marine Debris Removals within Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
- Summary of research on marine debris impacts to reef habitats in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
- National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Funding Application
