GALVESTON – For the past three years, volunteers and conservationists have made waves along the Texas coast, helping create cleaner beaches and safer habitats for nesting sea turtles and shorebirds.
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According to the Stopping Plastics and Litter Along Shorelines website — better known as SPLASh—five of the world’s seven sea turtle species nest along the Texas coast. To help protect those habitats, SPLASh will host a large beach cleanup Tuesday, March 10, from 9 a.m. to noon, inviting the public to help make the coastline safer for wildlife.
Working alongside the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, American Bird Conservancy, Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research, and Texas Master Naturalists, the group launched NestFest in 2023 to prevent sea turtles and birds from becoming entangled in dangerous debris such as fishing line, balloons and plastic straws.
Since its inception, NestFest volunteers have removed 10,135 pounds of trash with the help of 1,177 participants.
The cleanup also falls during spring break, making it an opportunity for families to spend time together while helping protect coastal wildlife. As of today, nearly 600 volunteers have signed up to clean 14 beaches across Bolivar Peninsula, Galveston Island, Follet’s Island and Quintana Island.
For more information about NestFest, visit www.splashtx.org/nestfest.