The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation\u2019s Coastal Watch is signing up volunteers to collect trash on the beaches for the Ocean Conservancy\u2019s annual International Coastal Cleanup.<\/p>\n
The islands\u2019 event will be held on Sept. 19, with gear pick up taking place beforehand.<\/p>\n
\u201cProtecting our coasts isn\u2019t something SCCF or the city of Sanibel can do alone,\u201d Coastal Watch Director Kealy Pfau said. \u201cIt takes residents, visitors, businesses and community organizations all working together.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ICC (International Coastal Cleanup) is one of the best examples of stewardship and action,\u201d she added. \u201cIt reminds us that protecting the coast isn\u2019t someone else\u2019s responsibility. It\u2019s something that we all have to do together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Volunteers will help pick up any nonnatural debris.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a wide range of items that come back at the end of the cleanup,\u201d Pfau said. \u201cUsually, we see bottle caps, plastic bottles, food wrappers, fishing line, cigarette butts. But it\u2019s usually the smallest pieces of plastic that have the most harm to our environment.\u201d<\/p>\n
She noted that last year over 250 volunteers removed more than 900 pounds of trash.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of that was small pieces of plastic or fishing line. So we didn\u2019t get a lot of big items, but we got a lot of little items,\u201d Pfau said. \u201cIt\u2019s crucial to get off of the beach so it doesn\u2019t get ingested by wildlife and also doesn\u2019t go back into the water.\u201d<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s cleanup will likely involve about two dozens areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are aiming for 24 sites across Sanibel and Captiva, both on the bayside and on the Gulfside,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
For those interested off island, Keep Lee County Beautiful is taking part in the ICC on Sept. 19 from 8 to 10 a.m. with multiple sites across Lee County. It typically holds one at the Causeway Islands Park.<\/p>\n
As for the Sanibel-Captiva event, group registration is open from now through Aug. 10.<\/p>\n
It is for those with five or more people.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo that\u2019s for businesses, families, organizations, community groups,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Sign-ups will open on Aug. 12 for individuals and any groups with less than five people.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo that is allowing anyone to participate,\u201d Pfau said.<\/p>\n
Bank of the Islands is the T-shirt sponsor and will provide those for volunteers.<\/p>\n
The community is encouraged to register.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a great way to spend a Saturday morning with your friends or coworkers. It\u2019s great team building, and it\u2019s team building with a purpose,\u201d she said. \u201cYou spend a couple of hours out on the beach, enjoying nature and doing your part for the islands.\u201d<\/p>\n
To sign up for group registration, email coastalwatch@sccf.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n Individuals and small groups will be able to register via POINT at pointapp.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n For questions or more information, contact coastalwatch@sccf.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n