ST. PETERSBURG, FL  (April 30, 2024)— On Sunday, a viral video began circulating of people throwing garbage cans full of trash into the ocean near the Boca Raton Inlet. In response, Jon Paul “J.P.” Brooker, Ocean Conservancy’s director of Florida conservation issued the following statement:

“With all of the work we’ve been doing in Florida to keep plastics off our beaches, the last thing we need is this kind of attitude towards Florida’s amazing ocean and coasts. Florida’s beaches are the backbone of our cultural identity in the Sunshine State, not to mention drive billions of dollars to the state’s economy. Let’s not trash our treasure.”

Jon Paul “J.P.” Brooker, Director of Florida Conservation at Ocean Conservancy, is available for interviews and comments regarding the environmental impact, potential consequences, and the broader implications of this incident on ocean and marine life.

To set up an interview with Brooker, email Roya Fox at [email protected] 

Every year, 11 million metric tons of plastics enter our ocean on top of the estimated 200 million metric tons circulating in our marine environments. Ocean Conservancy is constantly working to rid our ocean of plastics through the Plastic Free Cities campaign, helped pave the way for cigarette bans on Florida beaches and parks, fighting for Trash Free Seas®, working with legislators in Florida who just passed  legislation banning balloon releases, and actively fighting to rid our oceans of harmful plastic foam. 

Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup® is the world’s largest effort to remove plastics and other trash from our ocean and inland waterways. Since its beginning, more than 17 million volunteers have collected more than 350 million pounds of trash.

Ocean Conservancy is committed to advocating for the health and well-being of our ocean and stands in solidarity with the communities and ecosystems affected by this regrettable event.

About Ocean Conservancy

Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit http://www.oceanconservancy.org or follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or Instagram.

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