Our oceans, our waterways, and the marine life within them are at risk due to the presence of marine debris. Discarded fishing gear, litter, and even abandoned vessels can damage essential habitats such as coral reefs and seagrass beds. This debris can also injure and entangle marine life.

Through our Good Together Environmental campaign, donations made at the register in Florida by our customers and associates support marine debris removal efforts with the National Park Foundation (NPF) and FORCE BLUE.

Removing marine debris across Florida‘s bodies of water.

Funds provided to NPF are supporting debris removal at five National Parks in Florida: Biscayne National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, Gulf Island National Seashore, Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve, and Everglades National Park. Within these parks, National Park Service staff are working to remove debris such as discarded fishing gear, litter, and even abandoned vessels.

FORCE BLUE is using funds to work with environmental and governmental agencies to conduct marine debris cleanup missions across the state of Florida. These marine debris cleanup efforts include removing items such as scooters from the Hillsborough River and tires from the Crystal River.

Other ways we’re helping.

Through our support of NPF, we also fund the Submerged Resources All-Women Service Corps’ Wounded American Veterans Experience Scuba (WAVES) teams. This all-women military veteran scuba group has removed more than 8,000 pounds of marine debris from the water, including discarded, lost, or abandoned lobster traps.

In 2023, Publix provided funding to establish FORCE BLUE’s Quick Reaction Force, a team of former Special Operations veterans and military-trained combat divers who respond quickly to coastal or marine environmental emergencies. Our funds pay for specialized training, equipment, travel, lodging, and meals for up to six FORCE BLUE Special Operations veterans.