Marine Debris Removal in Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuge Helps Sea Turtles

The Florida Trustee Implementation Group’s Marine Debris Removal along Florida’s Gulf Coast project completed a successful four-day cruise this summer. The 2024 Marquesas Marine Debris Removal Cruise collected more than 7,000 pounds of debris from the coral reefs in and around the Marquesas Keys in the Key West National Wildlife Refuge, located 25 miles west of Key West. The Marquesas are known to have high densities of green sea turtles and are one of the few places along the Continental United States known to have foraging adults.    

During the marine debris removal cruise, more than 2 miles of derelict trap line, 610 lobster trap pieces, and 45 intact derelict traps were removed from the area. Nine scuba divers completed up to eight dives per day with the assistance of a three-person top-side crew.  

Marine debris poses a significant threat to sea turtles. Sea turtles can become entangled in discarded, abandoned, or lost fishing line and ropes; ingest fishing gear and plastics, or become trapped in derelict nets, traps, and pots. Removing marine debris reduces sea turtle deaths and other non-lethal injuries such as flipper amputations.

The remote location of the Marquesas makes debris removal particularly difficult. Unfortunately, the Marquesas are also a debris hotspot—they collect a significant amount of marine debris due to tidal flushing, wind and wave effects of storms, and the presence of coral and other structures that catch debris.  

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Debris on coral reef

Dr. Jennifer L. McGee, Program Administrator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Marine Debris Program, said this removal effort was particularly beneficial. “Ropes get snagged on corals and they can wrap many times around coral heads and branches. When that happens, people that are specially trained and have expertise in coral protection and management are needed to remove the debris from such a delicate system. This funding allowed us to engage those experts.”

The Trustees are providing approximately $3.7 million in Sea Turtle restoration type funding to implement this project. In addition, the Regionwide Trustee Implementation Group’s Reducing Marine Debris Impacts on Birds and Sea Turtles project will provide close to another $2 million to Florida's effort to enhance habitats for both sea turtles and birds.