“The Pollution Republic”

The Florida Keys is a set of islands that extends from the peninsula of Florida which include islands like Key Largo, Big Pine Key, and Key West. As a result of the tropical climate, the Keys have become the home to rich, diverse ecosystems with an abundance of plants and animals. They are also a popular vacation destination for tourists to snorkel, fish, lounge, and dine on local fare like spiny lobster, conch, and mahi. Unfortunately, this kind of pressure can take a toll on the environment. In particular, the coral reef ecosystems and the marine organisms that inhabit them.

During my recent vacation to the Keys, I was able to snorkel the reefs off the coast of Key Largo. I visited two sites: Christ of the Abyss area of Key Largo Dry Docks and Banana Patch Reef. I saw a large variety of corals along with parrot fish, barracuda, lemon shark, a spiny lobster, and a green sea turtle. I was ecstatic to see so many different species in their native habitats!

Throughout the snorkeling trip, particularly at the Christ of the Abyss site, I noticed thin white sheets floating in the water. At first I wondered whether these were remnants of sea grasses or something else from the reef. Then I realized, “No, it’s plastic.” I began to take notice of other items littered around the corals such as old fishing traps. I was taken aback. It was one thing to see trash on the side of the road but witnessing it first hand in the marine ecosystems had me stunned. We went snorkeling to experience the wonder of such an incredibly diverse ecosystem, but we still couldn’t escape the reality of our impact.

It is crucial that we have experiences like this with the ocean. It is through these moments that we connect with our environment and gain an understanding of how we impact it. We have a responsibility to preserve these ecosystems for the future. There is a common conservation principle called “leave no trace,” which is a guide to minimizing our impact when out enjoying nature. In its simplest form, it means whatever we arrive with, we leave with. For instance, if someone goes on a snorkeling trip, they might want to bring snacks with them, but they have the responsibility to make sure the trash ends up properly disposed instead of in the ocean.

Marine debris not only affects the experience of others, it can also harm the environment and the animals that call it home. Let’s do our part to “leave no trace” and give future generations the opportunity to see these beautiful places.