St. Lucie County - Sunday July 31, 2022: To help combat unwanted litter in our waterways, the Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit staff will host monthly beach cleanups on South Causeway Beach during free admission days into the St. Lucie County Aquarium, which are held on the first Tuesday of each month.
Volunteers can meet in front of the aquarium to pick up beach cleaning supplies, including gloves, trash tongs, buckets, sunscreen and even loaner sunglasses if needed. Staff and volunteers will comb the causeway beach and parking lots, picking up anything that does not belong. Afterward, we invite you to enjoy the aquarium for free.
Each day tons of trash is left behind on beaches, which harms wildlife and detracts from the natural beauty of our oceans. The Indian River Lagoon is the most biodiverse estuary in North America, home to more than 2,200 animal species and 2,100 plant species. It provides vital habitat for more than 75% of our commercially and recreationally important species, which call it home at some point in their lives. Removing unnatural litter is crucial to keeping the lagoon and its inhabitants healthy.
DATE: First Tuesday of each month: Aug. 2, Sept. 6, Oct. 4, Nov. 1 and Dec. 6.
TIME: 8 to 10 a.m.
LOCATION: Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit at the St. Lucie County Aquarium, 420 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce.
The Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit is an extension of the Smithsonian Marine Station in Fort Pierce. Unlike many aquariums, the large living displays serve as model ecosystems that represent habitats in the Indian River Lagoon and around the Atlantic Coast. The focus is on displaying ecosystems as complex communities of organisms interacting in their environments. Staff strive to provide the public with a better understanding of the diverse marine ecosystems of the IRL and surrounding areas and the impacts humans are having on these fragile environments.
Operated through a partnership with St. Lucie County and the Smithsonian Marine Station, the St. Lucie County Aquarium features more than 8,000 gallons of marine life that accurately reflects our surrounding coastal habitats.
The facility is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. and seasonally (January through March) on Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $4.25 for adults and $3.25 for children (ages 4-17) and seniors (55+). Annual memberships are available starting at $15 for individuals and $30 for families.
For more information about the St. Lucie County Aquarium, or to learn about volunteering opportunities, call 772-465-3271.
Keep up to date with this program and all the happenings at the Smithsonian Marine Ecosystem Exhibit by following @SmithsonianSMS on the most popular platforms and by visiting www.stlucieco.gov/Aquarium or calling 772-462-3474.