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Volunteer divers clean up under the Naples Pier

Posted at 10:23 PM, Aug 17, 2019
and last updated 2019-08-19 06:50:28-04

NAPLES, Fla. — The water under the Naples Pier is a little safer for wildlife, thanks to dozens of divers and other volunteers. The pier was closed from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday morning, while around 40 divers plunged into the water below the pier. They removed fishing gear, cell phones and other items that have fallen over the railing, while volunteers hauled the items up in buckets.

The divers found everything from fishing poles and nets, to old crab traps - and even a beach chair.

The city's Natural Resources Manager, Dr. Stephanie Molloy, said it's important to remove the debris so that marine life doesn't get tangled up and injured.

"Especially the fishing line is a hazard for underwater organisms, like the fish and the dolphins," Molloy said. "We're careful to cut that out and pull it out of the water."

It was Naples' 11th annual pier clean-up event. A beach clean-up is scheduled for September 21.