BY BIANCA MARCOF (Biscayne Times, June 2021) –
Study of Plastic Pollution in Biscayne Bay
As part of the Ocean Conservancy’s Shores Forward initiative with the City of Miami, a circulatory assessment protocol (CAP) was conducted to measure plastic discharge in Biscayne Bay – the first time a study of its kind has been conducted in the United States.
Since 2019, a CAP has been executed in 26 cities around the world, but Miami is the first American city to participate. The test was conducted along the Miami River after a news conference on May 12 attended by city officials, the Ocean Conservancy and the Jambeck Research Group.
Over six weeks, researchers will analyze collected data and report results to the city. Last month, Miami announced its partnership with the Ocean Conservancy, and students from the University of Georgia and Florida International University, to find ways to prevent plastic pollution in waterways, which is destroying Biscayne Bay’s marine life and ecosystem.
Acclaimed Miami artist and environmentalist Xavier Cortada has been honored by The Environmental Law Institute with the 2021 National Wetlands Award. The tribute is in recognition for Cortada’s 15 years of work creatively engaging local residents in learning about, conserving and restoring mangrove forests. The National Wetlands Awards are presented annually to individuals who have excelled in wetlands protection, restoration, and education.
Local Environmentalist Honored
ELI’s National Wetlands Award program is supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and Natural Resource Conservation Service. Honorees are selected by a widely representative committee composed of 10-15 wetlands experts from around the country, including representatives from each federal supporting agency, members of the conservation and business communities, and representatives from state and local governments.
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