Keep Nassau Beautiful and Kayak Amelia invites Nassau County residents and visitors to “SuitUptoCleanup” to fight ocean plastic – Sept 15

Press Release
Keep Nassau Beautiful
September 5, 2018 3:00 p.m.

The event is sponsored by Surf and Beach Preservation.
Partners include Amelia Island Beach & Marine Life Protection Task Force, Amelia

Keep Nassau Beautiful and Kayak Amelia are organizing an Amelia Island beach cleanup as part of Ocean Conservancy’s 33rd International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), the world’s largest single-day volunteer effort to remove trash from our beaches, waterways, lakes, rivers and parks. The local cleanup event is scheduled Saturday, September 15, between 9 am – 11 am at various Amelia Island beach access points. Volunteers are asked to register: http://bookeo.com/kayakamelia .

Ocean trash, and plastic in particular, is one of the most visible and most prolific threats facing our ocean today; it’s also one of the most preventable. Every year, millions of tons of trash including an estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic waste flows into the ocean, entangling or suffocating wildlife, and even entering the food chain.
More than 800 species of marine life, including seabirds and sea turtles, have been documented with plastic in their stomachs. The most common plastics collected include cigarettes, fishing line and gear, balloons, food wrappers, plastic bottles, plastic bottle tops, plastic straws, and plastic bags.

Without concerted global action, there could be one ton of plastic for every three tons of fin fish by 2025, leading to significant environmental, economic and health issues.
Personal action is very important. Join the cleanup event by registering at http://bookeo.com/kayakamelia. Cleanup supplies will be distributed by site captains at each beach access point. If desired, bring sunscreen, bug spray and water. Participants must be over 18 or accompanied by an adult. Service hour certificates and a volunteer appreciation gift will be available for registered volunteers.