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Scripps News Article - 2008/07/28 07:03
FORT PIERCE — Volunteer divers brought up fishing line, nets, bottle caps and other debris from the Fort Pierce Inlet on Saturday.
They were part of Operation: Blue Streak, an underwater cleanup of marine debris led by Fort Pierce resident Don Voss, in coordination with the Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast and the Florida Inland Navigation District. Volunteers from Dive Odyssea of Fort Pierce also assisted in the effort.
"In a 40- to 60-minute dive like this we can bring up 2,000 pounds of debris, and we do this because we love to dive and we want to save our marine life," said Voss.
The debris-busting crew of 32 divers in nine boats hit the water in the early afternoon to cover the first mile of the Fort Pierce Inlet using gloves, collection bags, and dive flags to warn boaters of their location.
Voss reported that cleanups recover the remains of boats, chairs, tires, casting nets and almost always lots of fishing line.
"The fishing industry should go back to biodegradable fishing lines, or if not, throw a couple of bucks to groups like us who want to save the little fish, which saves the bigger fish, which eventually saves us," added Voss.
According to divers on hand, debris containing plastic kills thousands of marine animals yearly and impacts negatively on the environment for hundreds of years.
Twelve-year veteran diver Caryn Bishop of Fort Pierce said, "I'm totally stoked to have this first time opportunity to dive the inlet and pick up trash. This is my green time to save the environment."
"This week extends our first annual Treasure Coast Waterway cleanup," said Marty Laven, president of the Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast. "We have done 125 miles of waterway across three counties since last Saturday and we look forward to doing more."
Volunteers participating in the cleanup supply their own equipment and dive flags and must be certified.
"I don't care how much equipment I have to bring," said Jeff White of Fort Pierce,
"Here I get to do what I love best, and that's diving, and the plus is I get to improve marine life too," he said.
For information on the waterway cleanup, visit www.earthdayjournal.com. |
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