Thirty-eight dedicated volunteers came together for Sarasota Bay Watch’s Turtle Tidal Takeout, removing an incredible 2,700 pounds of debris from the coastline, Turtle Beach Boat Basin, and Jim Neville Preserve. Working by boat, kayak, and on foot, volunteers collected trash from the shoreline and ventured deep into the mangroves to uncover debris hidden throughout these coastal habitats.
The cleanup turned up an astonishing variety of discarded items. Volunteers recovered wood and pilings, plastic lattice, foam insulation, boat cushions, bifold doors, pillows, plant pots, glass blocks, and even a double window still in its frame. Among the more unusual discoveries were a toilet seat, a door with its handle still attached, and a three-legged table. The fourth leg was eventually found about a quarter-mile away!
The team also uncovered a can of paint, a container of wipes, rope with buoys, and 50 feet of monofilament fishing line tangled deep within the mangroves. One particularly curious find was a glass bottle of Clorox bleach, a reminder of just how long some discarded items can remain in our environment…