Oleta River State Park Kayak Cleanup

Overview

On Monday, June 16, 2025, The International SeaKeepers Society hosted a kayak cleanup launching from Oleta River State Park and paddling to Sandspur Island in Biscayne Bay. SeaKeepers’ Community Engagement team was joined by 13 dedicated volunteers, all geared up and ready to paddle into action. After a quick safety briefing and receiving instructions from Ranger Finn, volunteers set off in kayaks equipped with reusable bags, gloves, and trash grabbers. Volunteers navigated through the winding waterways of the Oleta River and out into Biscayne Bay to Sandspur Island, where volunteers removed debris caught in mangrove roots, floating in the water, and scattered across the island's shoreline. After filling one large trash bag, the team hopped back in their kayaks to paddle around to the eastern side of the island, an area less frequented by beachgoers. From here, the Haulover Inlet was visible, and the proximity of the ocean appeared to impact the debris on this side of the island, as most of the trash consisted of small fragments of plastic that had washed up on the beach. Over the course of the morning, the volunteers successfully removed over 68 pounds of marine debris, including glass bottles and aluminum cans, though the majority of the trash was plastic - both large pieces and tiny fragments. SeaKeepers is grateful to the passionate volunteers who gave their Monday morning to help protect our local waters and to Oleta River State Park for donating the use of their kayaks. We look forward to returning to Sandspur Island and continuing our stewardship of this special slice of Biscayne Bay!