Jacksonville Beach volunteers join International Coastal Cleanup to protect sea turtles

Over 200 volunteers rallied at Jacksonville Beach for the International Coastal Cleanup, collecting debris to protect local sea turtles.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Volunteers spent Saturday cleaning up Jacksonville Beach as part of the International Coastal Cleanup, a global effort to remove trash and debris from beaches and waterways.

Volunteers spread out along several oceanfront locations across the First Coast, collecting litter from the sand and shoreline.

The cleanup was organized locally by Keep Jacksonville Beautiful as part of the Ocean Conservancy’s annual event.

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For Mary Mills, an organizer with Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol, every piece of trash removed can make a difference for sea turtles.

“Always every piece matters,” Mills said. “Every piece of trash that everyone picks up helps to keep our sea turtles especially safe.”

Mills said balloons and plastics are among the most concerning types of debris found on beaches because sea turtles can mistake them for food.

“Yeah, the most heartbreaking is always seeing balloons and plastics because they digest them and they’re not able to get rid of them so everything, all the plastics that go into their body stay in their bodies,” Mills said.

Organizers also reminded beachgoers to give nesting sea turtles plenty of space.

Mills said people should keep obstructions away from sea turtle nests and avoid interfering if they see a turtle on the beach.

“Keep obstructions away from the nest and if you see a turtle on the beach, just let it go on its own don’t interfere with them,” Mills said.