EDUCATED INDIVIDUALS HELP FACILITATE CHANGE.

A common misconception about plastic is that it disappears overtime. Plastic becomes smaller and smaller over time through a process called "photo-degradation" but it never fully disappears. Any piece of plastic that is smaller than 5mm in size is considered a "Micro-Plastic". This form of plastic is the most harmful to Marine Life and even Humans. These Micro-Plastics can be found in the Air we breathe, Water we drink, and even the Food we eat. Studies showed that the average American consumes 1 credit cards weight in Micro-Plastic each and every week. 

Try to cut Single-Use Plastics out of you're lifestyle to help reduce the amount of plastic being consumed.

Photo taken at Bayfront park (Theo Quenee)

Nurdles are pellet sized pieces of Pre-Production plastic. 

The plastic production industry uses these Nurdles to create consumer goods ranging from plastic bottles and milk jugs to car parts and lawn chairs. These little pellets get lost while in transit from factory to factory, ending up in storm drains and street sides. Studies have shown that Nurdles absorb harmful chemicals and diseases such as Ecoli. Nurdles can easily be ingested by Marine Life, introducing plastic into the food chain and eventually making it on to our dinner plate.

By ditching Single-Use Plastics, you can help lower the demand for plastic products supporting the Nurdle Industry.

Photo taken at Legion Park (Theo Quenee)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WXqDYMQo90

Every time it rains, water that accumulates on the street carries plastic litter into the drainage systems. These pipes carry water from inland streets all the way to exit points called "Outfalls" which are located at various seawalls around Biscayne Bay. Single-Use plastics in the form of styrofoam containers, straws, cups, bottles, and cigarette butts flow from these pipes with each and every rainfall. Nearly 50 years old, there is little  no filtration stopping this litter from making its way into the ocean.

Contact your local government to let them know about Storm Drain pollution so they can implement filtration at the street level.

Photo taken at Miami Canal (Theo Quenee)

Nearly 41% of worldwide garbage is openly burned. When plastics are burned in an open environment, harmful chemicals and ash are put into the air. This can cause major health complications.

A study done in Ethiopia showed that children growing up in the slums where trash is openly burnt were 6 times more likely to develop respiratory illnesses in comparison to children growing up in areas with better garbage systems.

In developed countries, trash incineration plants are common and can produce power while releasing significantly less chemicals into the air. However, the by-product of this process is extremely toxic ash which is put into landfill sites.

Photo taken in Nicaragua (Theo Quenee)

Mangroves can be found in tropical areas around the globe. They all serve as natural protection against Hurricanes and other tropical storms, keeping the shoreline from eroding during powerful storm surge. On top of acting as bodyguards for our coastlines, Mangroves also act as a Nursery to hundreds of Marine species ranging from Sea Birds to Fish and Crabs.

In relation to climate change, Mangroves can sequester the more carbon than any other Terrestrial plant on earth! 

Mangroves all over the world are being torn down for land space used for shrimp farms and development. Nearly 35% of the worlds mangrove forests have been depleted. In the Americas, Mangrove forests are being cleared at a rate faster than the Amazon Rainforest.

Photo taken at Legion Park (Theo Quenee) 

You see fields of grass on land, but did you know there was grass underwater too?! 

Much of the sea floor in shallow waters around tropical regions are covered by forms of Sea Grass. There are 7 different types of Sea Grass which can be found in Florida waters, the most common ones being Manatee and Turtle grass. These SeaGrass beds are home to Marine animals such as Sting Rays, Sharks, Fish, Crustaceans, Manatees, and Turtles.

Sea Grass beds act as water filters for the areas they are found in, maintaining a healthy water quality. They keep nutrient levels in check and help prevent Toxic Algae blooms from happening in Bay environments.

Sadly, Sea Grass beds all over South Florida have been disappearing due to worsening water pollution and coastal development. Some Seagrass beds in Miami have lost nearly 90% of their size in the last 10-15 years.

Like Mangroves, Sea Grass sequesters carbon and plays a major role in reducing the impacts of climate change.  

Photo taken at Crandon Park (Theo Quenee)