Suncoast Aqua Ventures Marks 10 Years of Reef & Beach Cleanup in Terra Ceia
For a decade, volunteers with Suncoast Aqua Ventures have been doing something very simple that produces very visible results: getting trash out of the Suncoast’s waterways, shorelines and coastal communities.
That effort continues on Saturday, September 12, 2026, when the nonprofit hosts its 10th Annual Reef & Beach Cleanup at Terra Ceia SeaBreeze Park, 55 Horseshoe Loop Road in Terra Ceia. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and once again combines environmental stewardship with a friendly “Cash for Trash” competition. Event details are confirmed on the organization’s official website.
Event Information and Registration: 10th Annual Reef and Beach Cleanup registration
What makes this cleanup different from a typical beach cleanup is that participants are not limited to one stretch of shoreline. Teams can collect debris anywhere in Manatee or Sarasota County and bring it back to SeaBreeze Park to be sorted and weighed.
Volunteers can work on foot, by boat, kayak or paddleboard, while certified scuba divers will have their own competitive division. Cleanup supplies including bags, gloves and litter pickers will be provided. Participants should bring reusable water bottles, sun protection and, for those working around shorelines, appropriate water shoes.
Turning Trash Into Competition
The annual event uses prizes and friendly competition to encourage participation. Volunteers can compete in categories including the greatest amount of trash, recyclables, metals, tires and shoes, along with awards for some of the more unusual debris recovered from land or water.
Scuba divers will also compete in categories for collecting anchors and for removing nets, rope and fishing tackle.
For the September 12 event, weigh-in lines are scheduled to open at 10 a.m., and participants must be in line by 3 p.m. to have their collections registered. Multiple drop-off trips can be made during the day.
A Decade of Cleaning Local Waters
Suncoast Aqua Ventures was founded in 2016 by Troy Brown and Cheryl Huntsinger with a mission centered on keeping local beaches, bays, rivers and underwater environments free of human-made debris. The organization remains an active Florida nonprofit and 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Visit the Suncoast Aqua Ventures website or learn more about the organization and team. Its cleanup efforts have expanded well beyond the signature Reef & Beach Cleanup, with projects targeting local waterways, shorelines and areas affected by storms.
Suncoast Aqua Ventures also works alongside organizations with similar environmental missions, including the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, Keep Manatee Beautiful, Coastal Conservation Association and Sarasota Bay Watch.
A look at upcoming and previous cleanup projects is available on the organization’s events page.
The organization says the Reef & Beach Cleanup alone has removed more than 150,000 pounds of debris during its history. Event organizers report that nearly 390,000 pounds of debris in total have been removed since Suncoast Aqua Ventures was founded in 2016. Published totals on portions of the organization’s website have not always been updated at the same time, so the nearly 390,000-pound number should be regarded as the organization’s current event-reported figure.
Regardless of the accounting discrepancy, hundreds of thousands of pounds of material have been removed through Suncoast Aqua Ventures cleanup efforts during the organization’s decade of work.
The Suncoast Post has also covered the organization’s previous cleanups, including the 9th Annual “Cash for Trash” Reef & Beach Cleanup and an earlier Reef & Beach Cleanup in 2024.
More Than a Cleanup
The September event is designed to be much more than a day of collecting debris.
Food trucks, craft vendors, raffles, a bounce house and afternoon children’s activities are planned. Families and spectators are welcome even if they are not participating in the cleanup.
Students can also earn community-service hours, making the event particularly suitable for school groups, youth organizations and students looking for a hands-on way to contribute to the community.
Suncoast Aqua Ventures is encouraging families, churches, civic organizations, schools, businesses and groups of friends to form teams.
Free event T-shirts will be available while supplies last.
The organization is also seeking sponsors, raffle prizes, gift cards, vendors and land-side volunteers who would rather assist at SeaBreeze Park than head into the field.
Those interested in volunteering, sponsorship opportunities or additional information can contact the organization directly through its contact page. The listed phone number is 941-962-1488, and the email address is suncoastaquaventures@gmail.com.
Why Removing Marine Debris Matters
Trash that enters bays, canals, mangroves and coastal waters does not simply disappear. Fishing line, nets, plastics, tires and other debris can remain in the environment for years, creating hazards for marine life, birds, boaters and others who enjoy the water.
Removing that debris before it travels farther into Sarasota Bay and surrounding Gulf waters is one reason community-based cleanup programs can make a difference.
But the impact of an event like this isn’t measured only by the pounds recorded on a scale. It gives residents an opportunity to personally improve the places where they fish, boat, paddle, dive, swim and spend time with their families.
After 10 years, Suncoast Aqua Ventures is hoping its anniversary cleanup can produce another milestone — and perhaps push its reported lifetime cleanup total beyond 400,000 pounds.
Join the 10th Annual Reef & Beach Cleanup
Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026
Time: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Location: SeaBreeze Park, 55 Horseshoe Loop Road, Terra Ceia, FL 34250
Registration: 10th Annual Reef and Beach Cleanup
Follow Suncoast Aqua Ventures for additional cleanup information and event updates through Facebook, Instagram and the organization’s website.
For residents who care about keeping the Suncoast’s land and water free from debris, September 12 offers a chance to get involved — and to help Suncoast Aqua Ventures begin its next decade of cleaning up the community.
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