A team of U.S. military veteran combat divers recovered more than 1,000 pounds of marine debris from 10 artificial reef sites off Destin-Fort Walton Beach, including an estimated 12 miles of derelict fishing line.
- The mission was a partnership between Okaloosa County’s Destin-Fort Walton Beach Natural Resources Team and FORCE BLUE, a nonprofit that recruits and trains military special operations veterans and first responders as professional divers and pairs them with hands-on marine conservation work. Funding was provided to FORCE BLUE through a Publix cash register campaign.
Divers recovered 1,022.93 pounds of debris from the reefs over the course of the mission. Of that total, roughly 40 pounds was derelict fishing line, conservatively estimated at about 64,000 linear feet. The 12-mile estimate assumes heavier, 100-pound test line. Lighter or braided line recovered in the same haul would represent significantly more linear footage per pound.
“We take the responsibility of being good stewards of the environment very seriously,” said Okaloosa County Board Chairman Trey Goodwin. “Partnering with FORCE BLUE to maintain our growing artificial reef system is a great collaboration that prioritizes both the marine habitat and the well-being of our veterans.”
Though fishing line made up a small share of the total weight, its ecological impact is disproportionately large. Nearly invisible underwater, the material continues to entangle fish, sea turtles and marine mammals long after it is lost or discarded, a phenomenon known as “ghost fishing.” It can take years to break down.
“Forty pounds of fishing line sounds small next to a thousand-pound total, but by our conservative estimate that’s about 12 miles of line that can pose a threat to marine life and these habitats,” said Danielle Lasseigne, Coastal Resources Coordinator for Okaloosa County. “This material doesn’t weigh much, but it does a disproportionate amount of damage the longer it stays on the reef.”
- Lasseigne said partnerships like the one with FORCE BLUE allow the county to tackle that problem directly and help document the ongoing maintenance the reef system needs to support healthy fish populations and a strong diving community.
Okaloosa County’s Natural Resources team manages one of the largest artificial reef programs in the country, drawing divers and anglers from across the nation and supporting a significant share of the region’s marine tourism economy. Dozens more reef construction projects are currently underway.
This was the sixth mission FORCE BLUE has conducted in partnership with Destin-Fort Walton Beach. Past missions have included living shoreline creation, invasive lionfish removals and additional marine debris removal efforts across the reef system and the Destin East Pass jetties.
“Our divers train for exactly this kind of mission, methodical, structure-heavy dives where visibility and current can change fast,” said Brown, FORCE BLUE Mission Leader. “The Destin-Fort Walton Beach reef system is an impressive resource, and it was clear from the amount of debris we recovered how much value there is in doing this work regularly.”
Beyond the environmental impact of each mission, the organization gives veterans a renewed sense of purpose and community following their service, channeling their training toward restoring reefs, shorelines and marine ecosystems that coastal communities depend on.
The county continues to pursue partnerships with research institutions and conservation organizations to support the long-term health of its reef system.
