by MBJ Staff

Published: October 20,2014

Tags: barrier island, beach, environment, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, Jamie Miller, marsh, Mississippi Coastal Cleanup, Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, Mississippi Marine Debris Task Force, Mississippi Power Co., Ocean Conservancy, Renew Our Rivers, trash, University of Southern Mississippi

GULF COAST Nearly 2,000 volunteers combed the Coasts beaches, marsh areas and barrier islands Oct. 18, picking up trash at 47 sites during the 26th annual Mississippi Coastal Cleanup.

Preliminary numbers show that during the three-hour cleanup, 1,616 people picked up 1,603 bags of trash, including 275 bags of recyclables along 100 miles in Harrison, Hancock and Jackson counties.

Every year, the Mississippi Coastal Cleanup grows, showing that more people are dedicated to keeping the Coast free of trash, said Jamie Miller, executive director of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. Its good for the environment, but its also an opportunity to teach our young people the value of keeping our beaches, bays and islands clean.

One volunteer working near the Biloxi Lighthouse found a bag of crystal meth, which was turned over to Biloxi Police. Some of the most interesting items found include a dishwasher door in Jackson County, a grocery cart on Deer Island in Harrison County and a watermelon patch in Hancock County. Volunteers also found tires, tents, mattresses and a TV.

Workers at Deer Island found a dolphin carcass and reported it to the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies.

Coastal Cleanup is organized by MDMR and the Mississippi Marine Debris Task Force and is part of the International Coastal Cleanup.

The mission of the ICC is to remove debris from shorelines, bayous, bays and beaches and collect information on the amount and types of debris collected and use that data to educate people on the dangers of littering.

Read more:

Coast cleanup nets 1,600 bags of trash and a watermelon patch