Reel it In for the Reefs: Saving Florida’s Reefs One Cleanup at a Time
In this episode of “Do Beautiful Things,” host Jenny Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, shines a spotlight on the extraordinary impact of local action and environmental stewardship along Florida’s vibrant reef-lined coast.
Joining Jenny is Anna Bennett, founder of Reel it in for the Reefs, an annual underwater cleanup initiative inspired by her compassion for sea turtles like Bella, a hawksbill rescued from a life-threatening fishing line entanglement. Anna shares how a single act of care ignited South Florida’s largest reef cleanup in history, rallying divers, charter boats, and volunteers to remove hundreds of pounds of fishing line, plastic, and marine debris from vital habitats.
Together, Jenny and Anna discuss the preventable dangers marine life face, the power of community-driven change, and how every individual—whether a fisher, diver, or coastal resident—can make a meaningful difference for our oceans and wildlife. As part of the Greatest American Cleanup, Reel it in for the Reefs exemplifies what can happen when people come together to protect the places and creatures they love.
Tune in to this inspiring episode to hear Anna’s journey from local diver to community leader, discover tips for responsible fishing and underwater stewardship, and find out how you can support reef cleanups in your area.
Quotes:
“This is by far the largest reef cleanup in South Florida history ever, with about 400 divers on one day.”
“People will protect what they love.”
– Anna Bennett Founder, Reel it in for the Reefs
Show Notes:
- 00:00 Reel it in for Reefs
- 04:24 Turtles Endangered by Fishing Line
- 07:46 Underwater Reef Cleanup Initiative
- 12:57 Protecting Reefs and Sea Turtles
- 14:00 Responsible Fishing: Reel in Your Line
- 17:14 “Americans Unite for a Greener Future”
Show Links:
- Greatest American Cleanup: https://kab.org/greatest-american-cleanup/
- Reel it in for the Reefs: https://reelitinforthereefs.org/
- National Save the Sea Turtle Foundation: https://savetheseaturtle.org/
About Keep America Beautiful®:
Keep America Beautiful®, the nation’s leading community improvement nonprofit organization, inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful® strives to End Littering, Improve Recycling, and Beautify America’s Communities. We believe everyone has a right to live in a clean, green, and beautiful community, and shares a responsibility to contribute to that vision. The organization is driven by the work and passion of 700 Keep America Beautiful® affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the collaborative support of corporate partners, social and civic service organizations, academia, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin, and YouTube. Donate and take action at kab.org. MEDIA CONTACTS: McCall Vrydaghs Keep America Beautiful® communications@kab.org