The Advanced Science Diving Program at Florida State University Panama City, in collaboration with Panama City Diving and Panama City Dive Center, hosted a Jetty Clean-up Day at St. Andrews State Park in Panama City on Aug. 23. The university reported that 36 volunteers, both on-shore and aboard a dive boat, removed 383 pounds of trash from the jetties and surrounding area.
"Removing aquatic debris, especially old fishing line, from reef areas is not just a good practice — it's a vital responsibility,” Mike Davis, FSU Panama City's director of dive operations, wrote in a prepared statement. “These materials pose a deadly threat to marine life, entangling fish, sea turtles, and even birds, often leading to painful injury or death.”
The retired U.S. Navy captain concluded his statement by writing that the jetty clean-up not only helps the marine ecosystem, but also helps to sustain the local economy through tourism and fishing.
David Banks, a former youth minister and avid scuba diver from Beattyville, Kentucky, said he signed up to help after hearing about the clean-up while getting some gas filled in town.
"Mostly fishing line, some ropes, a few anchors," Banks said, describing some of the garbage he sees below the jetties. "Occasionally clothing items, tarpaulin, sometimes masks and snorkels. I guess people snorkeling lose them and they wash down."
Isaiah Melville, a scuba diver from Panama City, said he scuba dives in the area once or twice a month and always sees at least one cut fishing line under the water
"I just wanted to help clean up the jetties, and try to get the area safe for the wildlife," Melville said as he put on his wetsuit.
Men like this is very much needed for our oceans and clean water intiatives for years to come.
Info via Tyler Orsburn of Panama City News Herald
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