Participating Organizations
Marine debris is being addressed through the dedicated work of organizations and partnerships around the Florida and Caribbean region. Organizations listed below are actively engaged in the Florida and Caribbean Marine Debris Collaborative and associated action plan. For contact information, please visit the organizational websites.
The marine science program at Eckerd College offers an excellent and comprehensive hands-on curriculum that is designed to serve as part of a liberal arts education, providing an awareness of the marine environment and its significance to humankind, so that students may be better prepared to solve complex environmental and scientific problems.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is Florida's lead aquaculture agency. The agency's Division of Aquaculture coordinates and assists in the development of aquaculture, and regulates aquafarms to protect and conserve Florida's natural resources.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s lead agency for environmental management and stewardship, protecting our air, water and land
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) mission is to manage fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people. FWC is the state's lead agency on addressing marine derbis issues including derelict fishing gear and abandonded and derelict vessels.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission currently has two Derelict Trap Retrieval and Debris Removal Programs dedicated to removing lost and abandoned traps from state waters: the Spiny Lobster, Stone Crab and Blue Crab Trap Retrieval Program and the Derelict Trap and Trap Debris Removal Program.
FWC's Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program (MRRP) is a statewide effort to educate the public on the consequences of monofilament line left in the environment, to encourage recycling through a network of line recycling bins and drop-off locations, and to promote volunteer cleanup events.
The Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association (FKCFA) and their members are confident about the future of Monroe County’s marine resources and the industry continues to participate in cooperative research efforts to maintain and improve them.
Designated on November 16, 1990, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is one of 15 marine protected areas that make up the National Marine Sanctuary System. Administered by NOAA and jointly managed with the State of Florida, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary protects 2,900 square nautical miles of waters surrounding the Florida Keys, from south of Miami westward to encompass the Dry Tortugas, excluding Dry Tortugas National Park. The shoreward boundary of the sanctuary is the mean high-water mark, essentially meaning that once you set foot in Keys waters, you have entered the sanctuary.
Florida Sea Grant is a university-based program that supports research, education and extension to conserve coastal resources and enhance economic opportunities for the people of Florida.
Keep Florida Beautiful works with a network of county and city affiliates to engage and educate citizens, visitors, and communities to assist Florida in becoming better environmental stewards through litter prevention, recycling, education, and beautification efforts.
Loggeerhead Marinelife Center works through its multi-faceted program called Project SHIELD to help provide conservation solutions to fishing piers, recreational boaters, beach-side hotels, snorkel and SCUBA operators, fishing charter operators, and beach access points as well as pollution prevention projects.
Mote Marine Laboratory is a leader in research programs that are relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity, healthy habitats and natural resources. Mote Marine Laboratory's research programs positively impact diverse public policy challenges through strong connections to public outreach and education.
The NOAA Marine Debris Program (MDP) is the lead U.S. federal agency for marine debris. The mission of the program is to investigate and prevent the adverse impacts of marine debris in our oceans and Great Lakes. The MDP work centers around research, removal, and prevention of marine debris, as well as emergency response and regional coordination. The Florida and Caribbean Regional Coordinator resides in St. Petersburg, FL.
Ocean Aid 360 works on assessment, implementation, and evaluation of marine habitat restoration programming in Florida. Through innovative partnerships, which leverage the resources of concerned coastal communities, private industry, and governments at the local, state, and federal levels; Ocean Aid 360 works to create measurable improvements for vulnerable ecosystems.
The Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources works to protect, conserve, and manage the natural and environmental resources of Puerto Rico and all the keys, islands and islets that surround it.
The City of Coral Gables ensures sustainability is a focus of the City’s policies and services, including in energy, water and waste efficiency policies. The City considers the environmental impacts of all of its operations, and works to develop solutions that minimize negative impacts to the environment, including reduction of marine debris.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is Florida's lead agency for environmental management and stewardship, protecting the state's water, land, and air. DEP is divided into three primary areas including Land and Recreation, Ecosystem Restoration, and Regulatory.
The University of South Florida, College of Marine Science seeks to increase and apply fundamental knowledge of global ocean systems and human-ocean interactions through research, graduate education and community engagement. They create and disseminate knowledge about ocean physics, chemistry, biology, geology, and fisheries through observation, modeling, and theory.
EPA's Trash-Free Waters program works to reduce the volume of trash entering U.S. waterways. Consumer debris makes up the majority of what eventually becomes marine debris, polluting our oceans and waterways.
The Center for Marine & Environmental Studies (CMES) at the University of the Virgin Islands was established in 1999 with the mission to offer students and researchers a dynamic atmosphere to study tropical marine and environmental issues and increase awareness about marine topics in the VI. CMES is a research and outreach arm of UVI's Marine Science Program.
The mission of DPNR is to protect, maintain and manage the natural and cultural resources of the Virgin Islands through proper coordination of economic and structural development in collaboration with other local, federal and non-governmental organizations, for the benefit of present and future generations so that they will live safer, healthier lives in harmony with their environment and cultural heritage.
The Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service (VIMAS), a part of the University of Puerto Rico Sea Grant College Program, is located within the Center for Marine and Environmental Studies at the University of the Virgin Islands. VIMAS works with the Virgin Islands community to raise awareness about our natural resources and foster environmental stewardship.
VolunteerCleanup.Org connects those who are leading shoreline cleanups with the volunteers looking for one to join.