Nearly 100 volunteers spent Halloween morning protecting Southwest Florida’s coastal environment during Keep Lee County Beautiful’s annual Monofilament Madness Marine Cleanup. More than 5,000 pounds of trash and debris was removed from local waterways, mangroves and shorelines.
Volunteers participated at multiple locations, working by boat, kayak, paddleboard and on foot to retrieve discarded fishing line, plastics and other marine debris. Crews launching from Salty Sam’s Marina navigated the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve, tackling litter trapped within mangrove roots and along shallow waterways. Paddleboarders maneuvered through narrow mangrove tunnels to reach areas inaccessible to larger boats, while boat crews hauled away heavy, waterlogged debris.
On Fort Myers Beach, volunteers gathered at the Tunaskin store to collect litter along the shoreline. Additional cleanup efforts took place at Matlacha Community Park, where Calusa Waterkeeper hosted volunteers in partnership with KLCB, extending the event’s impact to another important coastal area.
Since 1991, Monofilament Madness has focused on removing discarded fishing line and other harmful materials from Lee County’s marine ecosystems. Monofilament line can become entangled in mangroves and pose a serious threat to birds, fish and other wildlife, while larger debris can damage sensitive coastal habitats.
“Removing more than 5,000 pounds of debris in just one morning is an incredible accomplishment,” said Trish Fancher, Executive Director of Keep Lee County Beautiful. “Some of the items our volunteers recovered were extremely large and difficult to remove. Their willingness to navigate mangroves, wade through shallow water and tackle these challenging conditions demonstrates a remarkable commitment to protecting our coastal environment.”
Following the cleanup, volunteers gathered for appreciation lunches at Parrot Key Caribbean Grill and The Whale on Fort Myers Beach, celebrating the morning’s accomplishments.
KLCB extends its sincere gratitude to the volunteers, site hosts, community partners and sponsors from LCEC, SeaTow, Tunaskin Aquatic Apparel, Salty Sam’s Marina, Surfing’s Evolution & Preservation Foundation, Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation, Calusa Waterkeeper, FPL, Lee County Solid Waste, College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving, Town of Fort Myers Beach, Norm’s Beach Parking, Waste Pro, Ron Jon Surf Shop, The Mound House, Keep Florida Beautiful, and Keep America Beautiful.
To learn more about upcoming cleanup opportunities and ways to support KLCB’s environmental initiatives, visit www.klcb.org. Follow on Facebook @KLCBInc or Instagram @keepleecountybeautifulfl