Beyond the Sea Turtles
A local non-profit organization's reformative vision for cleaner beaches and wildlife protection
My beautiful town of Amelia Island is made up of several beaches that are home to both lively community members and a diverse array of marine life. Tucked into the northeastern corner of Florida, our area hosts a thriving sea turtle population. With this comes the responsibility of ensuring their continued survival for now and for future generations.
On a broader scale, conservation efforts across the state play a vital role in protecting the sea turtle populations. State laws are in place to ensure these animals remain untouched by humans. These regulations prohibit the public from tampering with turtles, their nests, or engage in any activity that could directly harm the species.
In addition, non-profit organizations aid in their safety and protection by rescuing injured turtles and raising money towards their ongoing care. Caution tape is often placed around known nesting sites for public awareness of their presence and prevention from any potential distributions.
However, rather than focusing on protecting the turtles through direct contact, Amy Beach-the leader of a local nonprofit in Fernandina Beach-believes in tackling the issue at its source. She advocates for maintaining clean beaches and adopting sustainable living practices, which can be some of the most effective ways to ensure the long term protection of sea turtles.
Driven by her deep love for the environment, Amy founded Beach Junki as a way to inspire greater care for the local ecosystem and the many sea turtles that inhabit it. By organizing beach clean ups and different local events, her mission is to educate the community on practices that directly impact marine life.
“Every conversation we have about sea turtles and ocean pollution helps expand awareness and build a network of conservation-minded individuals. By educating others, we’re creating ripple effects that lead to cleaner beaches, safer oceans, and a brighter future for marine life.” - Beach Junki
One vital change to our everyday living practices that Amy aims to spread more awareness about is the extensive use of plastic. Water bottles, bags, food packaging, and many other common items are major contributors to ocean pollution. The health of the water is directly linked not only to the well-being of sea turtles but also human health. This concept, known as planetary health, highlights the interconnectivity of Earth's systems. By emphasizing this connection it becomes clear that human health and the health of the environment are inseparable-both must be sustained for the planet to keep functioning properly.
“The concept of planetary health is based on the understanding that human health closely depends on the healthy functioning of natural systems and that preserving the quality of these systems is crucial to safeguard human health” - Josep M Anto
Most people are aware that plastic waste can be detrimental to marine life. Fewer people, however, are aware of the real crisis at hand stemming from the production and breakdown of plastic: microplastics. These tiny particles are created as plastic objects degrade over time, eventually ending up in the water, soil, and even our bloodstream. The rise of plastic use over the last few centuries combined with consumer driven culture, has led to a rapid increase in plastic waste. Beach Junki’s website highlights a shocking statistic:
If current trends continue, there will be more plastic by weight than fish in our oceans by 2050.
Combating this issue begins with spreading awareness about the harmful effects of plastic and building support in its global reduction. With this knowledge, It's crucial to think twice about the products and clothes that we purchase as well as to pay close attention to the materials they’re made from. While a complete boycott of plastic is not an easy task in our modern world, starting small can still make a meaningful difference. This can be done through making simple swaps like purchasing glass containers, silicon sandwich bags, reusable cleaning supplies, and saying no to fast fashion. A widespread resistance to plastic could be a matter of life and death for our ecosystems. For this reason, it is essential to educate children and adults around the world.
In addition to raising awareness, Beach Junki recognizes the importance of community and nurturing a deep love for the environment. When people develop this connection with nature, they are more likely to treat the earth and one another with love and respect. Through organizing a variety of activities on the island including beach clean ups, art projects, and even an annual turtle festival, Amy fosters this connection. These events bring people together for a common cause and awaken an inherent human instinct known as biophilia- the innate love for the natural world. Biophilia is thought to be a universal feeling, often sparked by direct contact with nature. This is also why practices like grounding (barefoot contact with natural surfaces) have been scientifically linked to better mental health.
Famous singer-songwriter and environmental advocate Jack Johnson has also spoken out about the deep connection between loving nature and caring for it. He encourages parents to instil a love for the beach and the natural world in young kids, so they grow up treating it with the same respect as they would a family member.
“For all the parents, just remember: it's more important to make your kids fall in love with the beach, fall in love with the ocean, fall in love with nature. it’s proven-we all protect the things we love, we protect our family.” - Jack Johnson
Beach Junki continues to gain traction in the local community and throughout the state of Florida with various sponsors supporting Amy’s cause. I reached out to her personally about getting involved, and more information about volunteering can be found on the Beach Junki website. Rethinking our plastic footprint and strengthening our bond with the environment around us will spark the change we wish to see. As the website says: “Be the change, Sea the change.”
