MORE THAN 12,000 POUNDS OF DEBRIS REMOVED IN ONE WEEKEND DURING TRASH DERBY

By
Tiffany Duong
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Local conservationists Emily Becker and JD Reinbott participate in the Trash Derby to make a difference on their home reefs. TIFFANY DUONG/Keys Weekly

Despite windy weather and rough seas, the inaugural I.CARE Trash Derby was a major success. The two-day event brought together tourists, locals, nonprofits and dive shops for a common goal: the largest-ever debris cleanup event in the Keys. Participants from throughout the Keys took up gloves and bags in the community fight against marine debris and coastal trash. 

The three competing divisions were: land/shore, private boats and dive shops. In total, participants cleared out a whopping 12,759.67 pounds of marine debris, plastic pollution and trash from our mangroves, coastlines and waterways. 

Following the derby, a family-friendly eco-festival at Founders Park in Islamorada celebrated the beauty of the Florida Keys and those who work to protect it every day. “We hit our goal,” said I.CARE co-founder Mike Goldberg. “We’re so grateful to everyone and our partners and sponsors. We couldn’t do this without you.”

The event’s title sponsor was National Marine Sanctuary Foundation in support of Goal Clean Seas.

Surfrider Florida Keys volunteers sort various trash and plastics found in the mangroves in Marathon during their land cleanup. SURFRIDER, FLORIDA KEYS CHAPTER/Contributed
Local Pilar Rum and Florida Keys Brewing Co served up libations that kept everyone cool in the afternoon heat. TIFFANY DUONG/Keys Weekly
Key Dives instructor Nikki Sunshine uses a lift bag to haul up old line from the seafloor. KURT TIDD/Contributed
Monofilament appears invisible, but wreaks havoc on fragile corals and wildlife by entangling them. TIFFANY DUONG/Keys Weekly
Key Dives instructor Mike Ryan checks his liftbag after securing debris from the seafloor. TIFFANY DUONG/Keys Weekly
Key Dives instructor Mike Ryan consolidates old line and broken pieces of lobster traps picked up during a Dive Against Debris. KURT TIDD/Contributed
Key Dives owner and I.CARE co-founder Mike Goldberg set – and beat – an ambitious goal of 10,000 pounds in one weekend of Keys-wide cleanups. TIFFANY DUONG/Keys Weekly
Marine debris in the Florida Keys is primarily made up of derelict traps and line that have come loose during storms or been lost at sea. TIFFANY DUONG/Keys Weekly
The Silent World Dive Center tackles the mangroves for a land-based shoreline cleanup as part of the Trash Derby. MORRIS DIVING AND PHOTOGRAPHY/Contributed
The Key Dives team hauled in over 400 pounds during Day 1 of the Trash Derby. MORRIS DIVING AND PHOTOGRAPHY/Contributed
Key Dives’ Day 12 boat celebrated cleaning up the seas and newly-certifying two brothers, 12 and 14-years-old! KEY DIVES/Contributed
Part of the I.CARE team manning the festival tent and helping to share more information on coral restoration. TIFFANY DUONG/Keys Weekly
All participants – by land, private boat and dive shop – gathered to celebrate over 12,000 pounds of debris removed! TIFFANY DUONG/Keys Weekly
All participants – by land, private boat and dive shop – gathered to celebrate over 12,000 pounds of debris removed! TIFFANY DUONG/Keys Weekly
Divers with Florida Keys Dive Center complete a Dive Against Debris for the Trash Derby. MORRIS DIVING AND PHOTOGRAPHY/Contributed
Tavernier’s Gabriela Tejeda croons to the crowd at Founders Park during the festival following I.CARE’s Trash Derby.TIFFANY DUONG/Keys Weekly
The team from Florida Keys Dive Center celebrates a successful Day 1 of the Trash Derby. MORRIS DIVING AND PHOTOGRAPHY/Contributed
Diver JD Reinbott retrieves fishing line with its lead weight still attached during the Trash Derby. TIFFANY DUONG/Keys Weekly
Christina ‘Wild Woman’ Wilson helps clean up an FWC wilderness area in Marathon with Surfrider Foundation, Florida Keys. SURFRIDER, FLORIDA KEYS CHAPTER/Contributed

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