view

2009 Sarasota Bay Monofilament Clean-Up
Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the purpose of the clean-up?
The purpose of the clean-up is to remove fishing line, hooks, lures, etc. from nesting seabird colony islands.

2. When is the clean-up?
Saturday, October 17th from 8:00 a.m. to Noon

3. Where do we meet?
Everyone will meet at the Save Our Seabirds Sanctuary, 1708 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota (City Island) at 8:00 a.m. to sign in and receive your instructions.

4. Where do we go?
Each team will be provided a map of their assigned clean-up location.

5. Do we need a boat?
Yes, this is a boating event because the islands can only be accessed via boat.

6. Where can we launch our boat?
There is a boat launch on City Island right next to the Save Our Seabirds Sanctuary. You can also launch at the 10th Street boat ramp, but there is no dock to tie-up your boat at the Sanctuary.

7. Can I still participate if I do not have a boat?
You may be able to team up with one of the boat Captains who does not already have a full crew.

8. How is the clean-up done?
Volunteers will motor around the perimeter of the island by boat and remove any fishing line from the vegetation. You will also access the island and remove the items found there.

9. What equipment do we need?
You will be provided with gloves, scissors, and trash bags.

10. What do we wear?
Please wear old clothes and shoes that you don’t mind getting wet and dirty. You will be walking in mud, muck, and on unstable terrain. So, wear sturdy boots or sneakers.

11. Do we need to bring anything else?
You should bring hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, drinks/water, and rain gear (if necessary).

12. What do we do with the fishing line, etc?
You will take all of the items back to one volunteer who has been designated as the record-keeper. He/She will record information such as approximate length/weight of line, number of
fishing lures, etc. on a data sheet.

13. How do we dispose of the items?
The fishing line will be recycled. There is 1 recycle bin at Mote Marine Laboratory and 4 recycle bins at Ken Thompson Park, which is right next to where you will be meeting.

14. Can we pick up other trash?
Yes. But, please keep all other trash separate from the monofilament and lures.

15. What do we do if we find a hooked or injured bird?
You will be provided instructions about handling injured birds before you go out. There will also be people in a separate boat that can assist you (you will be provided the cell phone number) and take the injured bird to the Save Our Seabirds Sanctuary, if necessary. That way you do not have to stop the clean-up.

16. What if we finish early?
If you finish early, you may go along the shoreline around the bay remove any monofilament, lures, etc. that you find. Please do not go onto private property.

17. Where do we go when we finish?
You will meet back at the Save Our Seabirds Sanctuary to turn in your monofilament, equipment, and data sheets.

18. What do we do after we turn in everything?
Please stay to enjoy refreshments and share your experience with the other volunteers.

Acknowledgements:

Sarasota Bay Watch would like to acknowledge START (Solutions to Avoid Red Tide) for assistance in forming our 501 (c) 3 organization, and funding the start up of our organization.

Sarasota Bay Watch is grateful for the support and guidance of Tampa Bay Watch, it's staff and Executive Director Peter Clark. Tampa Bay Watch was the inspiration that led to the formation of our organization and provides ongoing support. www.tampabaywatch.org

Sarasota Bay Watch would like to acknowledge the Frank Duckwall Foundation for their generous support.

Sarasota Bay Watch would like to acknowledge the Elizabeth Ordway Dunn Foundation for it's generous $20,000.00 grant for the 0rganization's start-up activities.