Star brite Project SeaSafe Joins with CCA Florida to Host Inaugural Clean Water Collective at Marker 24 Marina
Multiple organizations, celebrities, and volunteers team up to help conserve the Indian River Lagoon estuary starting April 22, 2022
MERRITT ISLAND, FL, April 22nd, 2022 — Earth Day, 2022 will mark the kickoff of an exciting weekend of conservation. Hosted by Marker 24 Marina in Merritt Island, FL, the Star brite Project SeaSafe inaugural event is a collection of several mature, interwoven projects hitting key milestones that involve putting boots on the ground. From clam and mangrove planting to educational workshops, the efforts will work toward improving the habitat and water quality of the struggling Indian River Lagoon system, including the Banana River where the marina is located.
Event Highlights
- Friday – CCA Earth Day, Media Event, Clam Arrival & Release
- Saturday – Clam release, Mangrove planting, Educational Workshops
- Sunday – Beach Clean-up
Background on the Indian River Lagoon
The Indian River Lagoon is a grouping of three lagoons: the Mosquito Lagoon, the Banana River, and the Indian River, on the Atlantic Coast of Florida; North America’s most diverse estuary, with more than 2100 species of plants and 2200 animals.
The North Indian River Lagoon is suffering from a long-time accumulation of excess nutrients from a wide variety of sources. There have also been effects on natural water flow from the development of the area and the building of causeways in the past. This imbalance has triggered severe algae blooms in the last decade causing an extreme reduction in the natural beds of seagrass that were once lush nurseries and feeding grounds for most species of fish, invertebrates, and larger animals like dolphins and nearly a 1/3 of the nation’s manatee population.
This makes revitalizing and protecting this incredible resource that makes up 156 miles of Florida’s Atlantic coastline a prime focus for the area’s value, splendor, and many ecosystems that border it.
Projects in the Collective
Indian River Lagoon Clam Restoration Project
Discovery Channel host, angler, and conservationist, Captain Blair Wiggins of Blair Wiggins Outdoors, will be present to repatriate clam beds through his Indian River Lagoon Clam Restoration Project (IRLCRP), a collaboration with CCA Florida, FWC, University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, and Premium Seafood.
The program has identified and reproduced native “super clams” bred from a population of clams that have survived these changing times. Clams are one of nature’s water filters, and the goal of the project is to catalyze the restoration of the clam populations and clarify the water so that the seagrasses can return. To date, the IRLCRP has planted over 13 MILLION clams.
UF Whitney Labs
Dr. Todd Osborne, Associate Professor of Coastal Biogeochemistry, will be on hand to provide scientific and logistical support to projects and organizations working to restore the IRL ecosystem.
Lagoon Solutions
Norman Kolsch with Lagoon Solutions seeks to leverage strong ties to public, private, and governmental entities to foster a collaborative environment that ultimately improves restoration success.
Mangrove Planting
Between the 1940s and 2013, 85% of mangroves had been removed from the Lagoon for housing development. Local resident and artist, Cory Redwine, is actively involved in growing and planting mangrove trees. Cory is the Preservation Director for the Star brite SeaSafe Program and is known for her dedication to local clean-up efforts, as well as raising awareness of the river’s issues and how everyone can pitch in to make a difference. She also spends time maintaining and monitoring the clam beds for the IRL Clam Project.
Beach Clean-up
The SeaSafe Cory Redwine Preservation Challenge encourages trash pickups along all waterways and rewards people for their efforts with prizes and products from Star brite. Cory, known for the amazing artwork she makes from recycled plastic she collects, also awards yearly winners with original hand-made pieces.
The Venue
Peter and Christine Black, owners of Marker 24 Marina have been working hard over the last three years to revitalize the marina facility and property to offer first-class amenities for their boating guests. “We grew up down the street from the marina and still live there,” said Peter Black. “I love this area and I am continually amazed at the amount of nature that thrives here despite the hardships we are facing with the river. We have modernized all the aspects of the marina to have the absolute minimum impact on the water. We are also currently rebuilding the old breakwater as a living mangrove-covered coquina barrier with openings for continual flow. We anticipate the structure will become its own thriving aquatic community with the new mangrove plantings taking hold and providing the filtration and stabilization of the sediment while also housing a nursery and anchor point for a multitude of species. We love fishing and boating in the river, and I want my kids to enjoy the same activities that I did growing up on the Banana River.”
Sponsors
Star brite, a US-based manufacturer of appearance, maintenance, and performance products for boats, RVs, home, and more, take great pride in their SeaSafe initiatives and products that strive to keep the environment in mind while still doing the task at hand very well.
“We are very excited to jump in the water and get involved hands-on in these grass-roots initiatives that are working hard to find creative, yet practical solutions to the many water-quality issues facing all waterways in Florida and the US in general. Our personal goal for the SeaSafe brand is that it is not just a sticker on our bottles trying to be more “green,” but a true effort to clean up the waterways that we love to fish and play in, too."
The SeaSafe Earth Day Weekend event will also be supported by the CCA of Florida, an engaging and active conservation group focused on improving fishing and anglers’ access to it; local community members like Capt. Jim Ross of Fine Line Charters and Catch A Memory Outdoors Radio Show; Tyler Shealy of Castaway Customs – SEADEK; Capt. Greg and Amber Rapp of the local charter fleet; team members from Star brite and other volunteers will be here to pitch in with the activities and workshops for the inaugural Project SeaSafe event.
There is no quick or sure-fire solution to the water issues of the Indian River, but a huge part of our community is giving it their all to make a difference and revitalize one of the most diverse and beautiful estuaries in the State. Check out any of these worthy organizations to see how you can help too!
Itinerary – April 22-24, 2022
Friday, April 22
- 9AM: Star brite, CCA members, volunteers, IRLCRP meet & greet under Media tent
- 10AM-12PM: Clam Truck arrives – unload clams
- 12PM: Lunch
- 3:30-5PM: CCA/IRLCRP Evening Waterfront Mixer
- 5:30PM: Dinner, River Taco Night
Saturday, April 23
- 8:30AM: Continental breakfast – assign workshops
- 9:30AM: Break into Mangrove root bedding, Mangrove planting, Clam planting, CCA fish release workshop, Waterway clean up workshops
- 1:30PM: Lunch on boats – Tour of Banana River to George’s Island (bird island)
- 4:30PM: Return from River – Clean up for dinner
- 5:30PM: Presentations
- 7:00PM: Sit Down BBQ Dinner Riverside – (casual attire)
Sunday, April 24
- 8AM: Continental breakfast
- 8:30AM: Beach/shoreline clean up, divide into groups.
- 11:30AM: Brunch and Closings.
