Good morning. Diane from Friends of Palm Beach to update you from the beach in Palm Beach. No matter how much erosion each section experiences, the marine debris washes ashore. We have collected and removed over 6,000 pounds of debris from 7.5 miles of Palm Beach's shoreline so far in 2025. That is over 365,000 pounds in our 12 years. 85% of this debris is made up of light plastic. We urge all to make changes at home as our consumption of the plastic jugs, cartons, utensils, bags, bottles and straws impacts our natural world every day and the scientific studies are in that the microplastics these items turn into are impacting each us as and found in our brains, blood and lungs. We each have the power to make simple choices to change this reality. And yes the sargassum is washing in as well, this is its season, but this beneficial natural product becomes the mortar to the sand for erosion protection to coastal properties and nurtures the beach eco-system to keep it natural and alive. Leatherback turtles have been laying their nests since February and the Loggerheads have started as well. These protected endangered species are a part of an eco-system much bigger than just a nest on the beach, they keep our reefs health in line with the symbiotic world offshore and reefs are our first line of defense in any weather system in dissipating wave action. Thank you for listening.
Good morning. Diane from Friends of Palm Beach to update you from the beach in Palm Beach. No matter how much erosion each section experiences, the marine debris washes ashore. We have collected and removed over 6,000 pounds of debris from 7.5 miles of Palm Beach's shoreline so far in 2025. That is over 365,000 pounds in our 12 years. 85% of this debris is made up of light plastic. We urge all to make changes at home as our consumption of the plastic jugs, cartons, utensils, bags, bottles and straws impacts our natural world every day and the scientific studies are in that the microplastics these items turn into are impacting each us as and found in our brains, blood and lungs. We each have the power to make simple choices to change this reality. And yes the sargassum is washing in as well, this is its season, but this beneficial natural product becomes the mortar to the sand for erosion protection to coastal properties and nurtures the beach eco-system to keep it natural and alive. Leatherback turtles have been laying their nests since February and the Loggerheads have started as well. These protected endangered species are a part of an eco-system much bigger than just a nest on the beach, they keep our reefs health in line with the symbiotic world offshore and reefs are our first line of defense in any weather system in dissipating wave action. Thank you for listening.