Grant: 18-006C
Project Title: Removal of anthropogenic debris to save sea turtles and improve their foraging habitats in Florida
Project Manager: Karen A. Bjorndal
Organization: University of Florida - Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research (Research and Educational Institute)
Grant Amount: $30,150.00
Completion Date: 2020-12-22
Summary: A major threat to sea turtle populations in Florida is the prevalence of anthropogenic debris, particularly fishery-based, in neritic waters of Florida. This debris poses three hazards to sea turtles: entanglement in debris, ingestion of debris, and degradation of foraging habitat caused by debris. The first two hazards can result in injury or death; the third hazard can decrease productivity (body growth and reproduction) by limiting nutrient intake. Although this debris comes from many sources, one of the most dangerous types is abandoned or lost fishing gear, such as monofilament fishing line, fishing nets, lobster/crab traps, and buoy ropes. Our project will target abandoned/lost derelict fishery-based debris in neritic waters of Florida. We will build on our experiences and lessons learned in the successful development and implementation of our Reclaim Our Coasts (ROC) Program. During the past two years, the ROC Program has focused on the removal of large derelict obstacles and barriers to nesting sea turtles and hatchlings in Florida. We are now expanding our removal efforts to neritic waters to decrease the threat of entanglement and ingestion of debris by sea turtles and improve marine habitats. Underwater removals will have new and different challenges in terms of equipment and removal techniques; however, our experience with nesting beach removals provides a good foundation to expand obstacle and debris removal efforts into neritic habitats. 
Results: Debris was removed at three sites, 1) Marquesas Keys located in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) and the Key West National Wildlife Refuge (KWNWR), Monroe County; 2) Richardson Reef, an artificial reef located in Hernando County; and 3) the outer reef tract in Biscayne National Park, Miami-Dade County.
From 26-30 June 2018, we collaborated with FKNMS, KWNWR, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Inwater Research Group, and the Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen's Association to complete a debris removal project in the Marquesas Keys. Trap debris was removed from in-water habitats, and roughly 7 km of linear nesting habitat were also cleared of fishery and other debris. This included more than 700 lobster and crab traps and a total of approximately 25,700 kg of debris (including traps, ropes, buoys, boat parts, longline, plastics, etc) removed
In collaboration with Hernando County Aquatic Services and Waterways and SCUBAnauts International, Inc, an in-water debris removal project was conducted on 20 July 2019 at Richardson Reef, an artificial reef in Hernando County, Florida, Gulf of Mexico. We successfully removed 9 derelict crab traps, 20 automobile tires, and multiple ropes and fishing line, totaling 671 kg.
As part of a Cooperative Management Agreement between the Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research at the University of Florida and Biscayne National Park (BNP), the park service staff conducted 25 SCUBA dive trips from January to September 2020 to remove anthropogenic debris from the outer reef tract and near mooring buoys within park waters. During these trips, BNP removed 4,051 kg of debris, which was made up of 3,407 individual items. A total of 6,248 m of line were removed, which included trap line and anchor line. The linear extent of debris removal efforts was approximately 12.5 km, with an average of about 324 kg of debris removed per kilometer
The funding provided by the Sea Turtle Grants Program has made it possible to remove thousands of debris items from marine habitats that were hazardous to marine life, including sea turtles.