Dauphin Island Trash Blows Campaign Enters 2nd Year
Contact: Sherry-Lea Bloodworth Botop, Deputy Director
Organization: Mobile Bay National Estuary Program
Phone: 251-380-7944
Email: sbotop@mobilebaynep.com
Website: http://www.mobilebaynep.com
Date: July 18, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 18, 2019
The Mobile Bay National Estuary Program and the Town of Dauphin Island move the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo “Trash Blows” campaign into its second year
As you drive down to the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo this weekend, pay attention to the blue and white signs along Dauphin Island Parkway and heed their messages. The Town of Dauphin Island and the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program (MBNEP) will continue the “Trash Blows” campaign for the second year at the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo (ADSFR) to raise awareness about truck bed and boat trash to keep our coastal waterways clean.
Anglers and visitors to the ADSFR will see six highly visible banners emblazoned with a cartoon of trash blowing from the back of a pickup truck and trailered boat with the words: “Trash Blows…Stow it!” They will also see campaign-sized signs along Dauphin Island Parkway reminding north and south-bound traffic to stow their trash where it won’t become a roadside eyesore.
Yellow mesh trash bags for use on boats are available with the purchase of ADSFR tickets at partner businesses and the Liar’s Contest. Tee-shirts and other prizes will be given to anyone who visits the MBNEP Trash Blows table in the tent and with a social media post (Facebook, Instagram) showing any litter cleanup activity with the hashtag #trashblows.
For the second consecutive year, the ADSFR will feature recycling receptacles along with trash bins. This year, Osprey Initiative will oversee recycling, sorting and appropriately directing materials to recycling processors with the help of Thompson Engineering’s Eco-Team. Osprey, who has gained local attention for the installation of portable Litter Gitter trash collection devices in Dog River and Three Mile Creek, will display and sell truck bed trash receptacles in the tent.
The mission of the MBNEP is to promote the wise stewardship of the quality and living resources of Alabama’s estuarine waters. MBNEP Director Roberta Swann is excited about the campaign, and as a Coden resident who lives on DIP, she felt last year’s first Trash Blows campaign at the ADSFR made a real impact on this audience of sportsmen and women. “As a wife and mom of hardcore fishermen, I understand the importance of protecting the waters that make the Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo so much fun and so successful. It’s important that those who most appreciate a resource understand ways that they can work to sustain it. I think the Trash Blows campaign raised awareness last year, and I’m optimistic that we’ll finish the weekend having created a few more stewards.”
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