Veteran divers remove more than 1,000 pounds of debris from reefs off Destin-Fort Walton Beach
Okaloosa County, Florida – More than half a ton of marine debris is no longer sitting on artificial reefs off Destin-Fort Walton Beach after a cleanup that paired local conservation work with the diving skills of U.S. military veterans.
The haul totaled 1,022.93 pounds across 10 reef sites. Hidden inside that number was a much lighter but especially dangerous problem: about 40 pounds of abandoned fishing line, estimated to stretch roughly 12 miles.
The Destin-Fort Walton Beach Natural Resources Team partnered with FORCE BLUE, a nonprofit that recruits and trains military special operations veterans and first responders as professional divers, for the removal mission. It was the sixth project the organization has completed with Destin-Fort Walton Beach.
The county manages one of the largest artificial reef programs in the country. Those reefs attract divers and anglers while supporting an important part of the area’s marine tourism economy, but they also require continued maintenance as fishing gear and other debris collect over time.
“Forty pounds of fishing line sounds small next to a thousand-pound total, but by our conservative estimate that’s about 12 miles of line that can pose a threat to marine life and these habitats,” said Danielle Lasseigne, Coastal Resources Coordinator for Okaloosa County.
Read also: Florida becomes first state to answer federal call for tougher higher education standards
The estimate assumes heavier, 100-pound test line. Lighter or braided fishing line would amount to considerably more footage for the same weight.
Lost line is particularly harmful because it can remain underwater for years, continuing to entangle fish, sea turtles and marine mammals in what is commonly called “ghost fishing.” Debris can also damage reef habitat and create hazards for people using the sites.
“We take the responsibility of being good stewards of the environment very seriously,” Okaloosa County Board Chairman Trey Goodwin said. “Partnering with FORCE BLUE to maintain our growing artificial reef system is a great collaboration that prioritizes both the marine habitat and the well-being of our veterans.”
Previous FORCE BLUE missions in the area have included invasive lionfish removal, living shoreline creation and debris cleanup around the reef system and Destin East Pass jetties.
“Our divers train for exactly this kind of mission, methodical, structure-heavy dives where visibility and current can change fast,” FORCE BLUE Mission Leader Ricky Brown said.
Funding for the latest mission came to FORCE BLUE through a Publix cash register campaign. Meanwhile, Okaloosa County has dozens of additional artificial reef construction projects underway and continues working with research institutions and conservation organizations on the long-term health of the system.
