South Florida waters face a direct threat from pollution that has long impacted ecosystems and local communities. At Pelican Harbor Marina on the JFK Causeway, manager Tommy Saleh described the potential consequences.
“If we have to close down because of the conditions, it’ll be devastating,” he said. “This is one of the few public places to access the bay.”
The issue goes beyond the preservation of public spaces. Dr. Alastair Harborne, a marine biologist, pointed out environmental damage caused by microplastics, saying; “As you go up the pyramid, you’re concentrating those plastics.”
For Louis Aguirre, WPLG anchor and host of a show called “Don’t Trash Our Treasure,” the stakes couldn’t be higher.
“Our bay is at a dangerous tipping point,” Aguirre warned. “All sources of pollution need to be addressed urgently.”
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