TURN BEADS INTO TREASURE AT THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM WITH GASPARILLA INITIATIVE

Tampa, FL (January 16, 2025) – The community is invited to join the krewe at The Florida Aquarium in keeping beads out of the Bay this Gasparilla season. Revelers can drop off their collected beads at the Aquarium, helping to protect marine life and local waterways.

As part of The City of Tampa’s Bead-Free Bay initiative, The Florida Aquarium is offering 50% off up to four (4) general admission tickets per group, when guests drop off their beads at the Aquarium during hours of admission, 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. The promotion runs from January 18 through February 16, 2025—spanning Gasparilla’s Children’s Parade through the Knight Parade.

>>> CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD BROADCAST-QUALITY VIDEO
OF LAST YEAR’S BEAD COLLECTION, REPACKAGING, AND DIVE CLEANUP <<<

WHY IT MATTERS

Gasparilla beads can end up in Tampa Bay, posing significant risks to marine wildlife and water quality. Throwing beads into the Bay is also illegal according to Florida Statute 403.413.

“The Florida Aquarium is committed to reducing plastic pollution, and the beads that are so synonymous with this celebration often find their way into our waterways where they can be ingested by, and harm, wildlife,” said Dr. Debborah Luke, Senior Vice President of Conservation at The Florida Aquarium. “These beads, like all other plastics, break down into microplastics which never decompose and remain present in the ecosystem for hundreds of years. They can be consumed by wildlife and end up in our food.”

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BEADS?

All the beads collected will be donated to the MacDonald Training Center, a nonprofit organization that helps adults with disabilities prepare for the workforce through vocational training, employment pathways, residential supports and life-enrichment opportunities. Workers and volunteers will sanitize and repackage the beads for reuse at future events, with funds raised supporting the Center’s career and education programs.

POST-GASPARILLA CLEANUP DIVE

Following this year’s Gasparilla celebrations, divers from The Florida Aquarium, along with volunteers and partner organizations, will once again conduct a bead cleanup to remove beads and debris from local waterways. Past efforts have recovered hundreds of pounds of waste, highlighting the importance of environmentally conscious celebrations.

For more information about the Bead-Free Bay initiative and how to participate, visit The Florida Aquarium’s website.

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Contact The Florida Aquarium communications@flaquarium.org