Explanation of Indicator
Public participation in efforts to keep beaches free of litter is vital for the maintenance of beach aesthetics. Residents and tourists are more likely to use and enjoy beaches that are free of litter. In addition, participation by the public in beach c
leanup activities heightens the connection between the public and the state's natural resources--this results in greater care and concern for beach resources. The Center for Marine Conservation sponsors the annual Florida Coastal Cleanup, a voluntary pub
lic program to remove litter and debris from beaches, which has been steadily attended since 1988. The number of volunteers participating in the Florida Coastal Cleanup provides indication of the level of public participation and concern for the state's
beach resources.
Data Characteristics
SOURCE
Information on participation in the Florida Coastal Cleanup is available from Bruce Ryan, Center for Marine Conservation, One Beach Drive SE, Suite 304, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701, or at (813) 895-2188.
ACQUISITION
The information is available in hard copy. There are no costs associated with the acquisition of the data.
COLLECTION
Information on number of volunteers, miles cleaned, and tons collected is available for the years 1988-1994. Since 1992 the data have been broken down by county; however, prior to 1992 the data are available only as state totals.
Data Limitations
The number of participants is determined from actual sign-ins; thus, it will not capture participants who do not sign in. Also, the Florida Coastal Cleanup is held once per year and does not reflect individual and local government efforts to clean the be
ach. In addition, it is possible that nonresidents also participate, so the numbers of volunteers may overestimate participation by Florida residents.
Data Analysis
Since 1989, participation in the Florida Coastal Cleanup has remained relatively stable. Fluctuations in attendance at the cleanups is likely to vary based on the amount of advertising conducted, weather conditions, and other environmental conditions. A
ttendance increased 73% from the first year of the cleanup (1988) to the peak attendance year of 1991, most likely due to increased awareness and popularity of the program. Some of the decline in attendance beginning in 1992 may be explained by the low n
umber of participants in Dade and Broward counties following Hurricane Andrew.