Keep Lee County Beautiful recently wrapped up another successful “Monofilament Madness” cleanup event in its ongoing mission to protect local waterways from marine debris.
Since its inception in 1991, this annual effort has focused on clearing discarded fishing line and other pollutants from Lee County’s mangrove ecosystems.
More than 100 volunteers took to the waters by boat, kayak, and paddleboard from Salty Sam’s Marina to collect litter throughout the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve. The team removed thousands of pounds of debris, including fishing line, Styrofoam, netting, and larger discarded items such as a tractor tire and a mailbox. Paddlers carefully maneuvered through mangrove tunnels, retrieving litter and passing it to boat crews for disposal. Additional volunteers launched from the Tunaskin Aquatic Apparel store and combed Fort Myers Beach, adding to the day’s success.
After the hard work, participants gathered at Parrot Key at Salty Sam’s Marina for a well-deserved appreciation lunch and after-party, celebrating their collective dedication to keeping Southwest Florida’s waters pristine.