More than an eyesore, trash in the ocean is one of the world’s most pervasive pollution problems. It sickens and kills marine animals and birds. It also undermines economies based on tourism and fisheries. While as much as 80 percent of marine debris is said to come from land-based activities, as boaters, we need to do our part. Keeping our waterways clean, safe, and beautiful enables us to be a part of keeping our waters alive.
By making more conscious decisions and altering choices in our lives and when boating, we can impact the ecosystem in a big way. These clean water organizations provide hope for those who need it most and create a seamless path for people to do their part in addressing the eco-crisis through advocacy, education, and action.
Clean Water Organizations
The Florida Wildlife Federation, an affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation, is a private, statewide, non-profit citizens’ conservation education organization composed of thousands of Floridians and non-Floridians with a common interest in preserving, managing, and improving Florida’s wildlife.
Their mission is to conserve Florida’s wildlife, habitats, and natural resources through education, advocacy, and science-based stewardship.
They believe that we must protect, restore, and connect our remaining wildlife habitats in a rapidly developing state and address ongoing climate change. Moreover, we must safeguard water quality and quantity as clean water is critically important to both humans and wildlife.
Captains For Clean Water is committed to the restoration and protection of aquatic resources for the use and enjoyment of all. Through their Awareness, Education & Advocacy programs, they work to engage supporters to advance science-based solutions that solve Florida’s water mismanagement and safeguard our way of life for future generations.
These programs directly support the organization’s 3 key areas of focus and encompass a variety of opportunities for supporters to make a difference in the fight for Florida’s water quality.
EVERGLADES RESTORATION
Fighting for improved water management and expedited infrastructure upgrades that restore the Everglades, thereby alleviating water-quality issues throughout south Florida, from the Caloosahatchee to the St. Lucie to Florida Bay.
NUTRIENT POLLUTION
Creating awareness around excess nutrient sources and their detrimental impact to our coastal estuaries, such as fueling red tide, blue green algae, and other harmful algal blooms (HABs).
POLICY CHANGE
Holding stakeholders accountable to implement policy that prioritizes the betterment of our coastal estuaries through call to action campaigns.
The purpose of Coastal Conservation Association is to advise and educate the public on conservation of marine resources. The objective of CCA is to conserve, promote, and enhance the present and future availability of those coastal resources for the benefit and enjoyment of the general public.
CCA was created in 1977, after drastic commercial overfishing along the Texas coast had decimated redfish and speckled trout populations. A group of 14 concerned recreational anglers gathered in a local tackle shop to create the Gulf Coast Conservation Association to turn the tide for conservation. Only four years later, gill nets along the Texas coast were outlawed and both red drum and speckled trout were declared game fish.
CCA has proven time and again that anglers are the best stewards of the marine environment. They work to protect not only the health, habitat and sustainability of our marine resources, but also the interests of recreational anglers and their access to the resources they cherish. With a growing, well-informed, active membership, CCA continues the mission launched by those 14 visionary anglers so many years ago.
The Coral Restoration Foundation actively restores coral reefs on a massive scale, while educating others on the importance of our oceans, and using science to further coral research and coral reef monitoring techniques.
Through the large-scale cultivation, out-planting, and monitoring of genetically diverse, reef-building corals they are helping to rebuild the structure of natural recovery processes for the coral. They empower the community to join them to save our planet’s coral reefs with dive programs, educational activities, scientific collaborations, and outreach.
The Surfrider Foundation is a clean water organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves and beaches, for all people, through a powerful activist network.
Plastic Pollution – Reducing the impact of plastics in the marine environments that surround us.
Ocean Protection – Defending our oceans from challenges threatening the vitality of the ecosystem.
Beach Access – Working with decision-makers to ensure full and fair beach access for all to enjoy.
Coastal Preservation – Taking on issues that threaten our beaches and natural shorelines.
Clean Water – Protecting the health and sustainability of our planet’s most precious resource.
4Ocean is on a mission to end the ocean plastic crisis. As an ocean cleanup company dedicated to ending the ocean plastic crisis, and a Public Benefit Corporation and Certified B Corp, they harness the power of business to fund a global cleanup operation that’s responsible for recovering millions of pounds of plastic and trash from the world’s oceans, rivers, and coastlines.
The Florida Ocean Alliance is one of the nonpartisan clean water organizations dedicated to bringing together the private sector, academia, and nonprofit research organizations in Florida to protect and enhance Florida’s coastal and ocean resources for continued social and economic benefits. Recognizing the interconnection of Florida to its neighbors in the Caribbean Basin, along the Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic Coast, the Florida Ocean Alliance is committed to positioning Florida as an international leader to integrate ocean conservation, education, and responsible economic development.
Private sector members include representatives from ocean-related industries in tourism, ports, shipping, cruising, recreational and commercial fishing, and recreational boating. Other members include representatives from nonprofit research organizations, academia, the ocean research community, and public interest groups.
Ocean Conservancy is working with the community to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together, they create evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. Ocean Conservancy works with millions of volunteers of all ages, from all around the world, on our International Coastal Cleanup. Through their dedication to focusing on long-term solutions, they’re helping to promote a healthy ocean, abundant wildlife and thriving coastal communities.
Keeping the Waterways Clean with Gulfstream Boat Club
What happens to the ocean impacts all of us. The ocean is our responsibility, but we can’t do it alone—we need to join forces with you and people around the world to keep our ocean and our coastal communities healthy and prosperous. These clean water organizations are paving the way to success. But the road to change lies at the intersection of effective strategy, robust science and many, many supporters like you.
What can you do as a Gulfstream Boat Club member to keep our oceans and waterways clean? Check out our article on how to host a waterway clean up, or check out the links above for more ideas!