Baynanza: Biscayne Bay Clean Up Day

Biscayne Bay, one of Greater Miami & Miami Beach’s most treasured ecosystems, faces ongoing threats from pollution and contamination. You can help make a difference at the 43rd edition of Baynanza, a day of action to protect and preserve this beautiful, vital natural resource. Whether you’re an individual or part of a group, a boater or a boat captain, joining Biscayne Bay Cleanup Day is a powerful way to contribute to the bay’s ecological restoration. With various volunteer opportunities across 32 cleanup sites, the annual event raises awareness about the importance of environmental stewardship and makes a direct positive impact on local ecosystems.

How to Get Involved

Join Baynanza by registering online by Wednesday, April 2. The event welcomes all volunteers, including boaters and boat captains, to contribute their time. The online form will prompt you to select your top two choices from a variety of volunteer sites, helping the event organizers distribute volunteers evenly. There will be four boat-accessible cleanup sites that require a short boat ride: Pelican Harbor Marina, Maurice Gibb Memorial Park, Shake-A-Leg Miami and the Biscayne Bay campus of Florida International University. All volunteers will receive a free commemorative t-shirt at the end of the day, so the form asks for the number of volunteers in your party and their shirt sizes. You can also receive email updates about Baynanza. Students can earn community service hours.

What to Expect

Armed with gloves and trash bags, teams of volunteers will collect debris from mangrove shorelines, coastal wetlands, vegetated beach dune systems, maritime hammocks, coastal strand communities, nearshore seagrass meadows, subtidal sand flats and a variety of intertidal habitats. At some sites, the effort will extend into the water with the assistance of captains and boaters.

What to Wear

You’ll be actively working outdoors, so wear closed-toe shoes (sneakers or similar) and comfortable clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty. Bring hats, sunscreen and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun; gloves, trash bags, insect repellent and a grabber are also recommended. Remember to bring food or snacks for yourself and your party as well as plenty of water.

Baynanza’s Mission

Due to its proximity to a major metropolitan area, Biscayne Bay’s ecosystems suffered significant destabilization during Miami’s early developmental years. Recognition of the impact human development had on local natural environments led to the state’s government forming the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves in 1974. The early 1980s marked the start of Miami-Dade County’s mission to save and preserve Biscayne Bay. Baynanza was born from the desire to preserve and celebrate the significant ecosystems of South Florida under constant threat from pollution, contamination and persistent littering. This event raises awareness of these critical issues while making a direct and immediate impact on the environment. Baynanza also hopes to inspire daily stewardship of the environment through small practices in daily life.

About Biscayne Bay

Biscayne Bay is comprised of two state aquatic preserves, a critical wildlife area, a national marine sanctuary, the Biscayne Bay beaches and Biscayne National Park, with nearly 173,000 acres of biodiversity spread across Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Nearly 95% of the park is aquatic, and it boasts four unique ecosystems: coastal mangrove forests, shallow lagoon waters, coral limestone keys and part of the Florida Reef, the third largest coral reef in the world.

Being a Good Environmental Steward Every Day

Several practices can be implemented in daily life to better serve the environment and ecosystems of South Florida and Biscayne Bay. Miami-Dade County has compiled a list of tips to keep Biscayne Bay clean.

• Avoiding plastic waste. By reducing or eliminating single-use plastics, practicing proper disposal of trash and recyclables, and opting for reusable items like bags or bottles, pollution can be significantly reduced.
• Picking up pet waste. By picking up and properly disposing of pet waste, harmful bacteria and nutrients can be prevented from entering delicate ecosystems.
• Responsible lawn care. Fertilizers can contain nitrogen and phosphorus, among other nutrients, making them incredibly dangerous to aquatic ecosystems. By following Miami-Dade County’s fertilizer schedule, which prohibits their use from May 15 to October 31, the amount of nutrients polluting Biscayne Bay can be greatly reduced. Additionally, when choosing what to landscape with, opt for native plants that don’t require fertilizer.
• Boat safety. Following speed limits and wake zones helps protect the ecosystem and marine life under your boat. Always be on alert for marine life in all areas and avoid sensitive habitats, like reefs and seagrass. Properly dispose of all trash. As a rule of thumb, if you pack it into the boat, it should be packed out of the boat.

By: Sofia Mirandes | Friday, February 21, 2025