Microplastics in Tampa Bay


Our Project:


Beginning in 2017, the Microplastics in Tampa Bay project was started with funding from the Tampa Bay Environmental Restoration Fund (TBERF). This project was originally only going to be one-year ($40,000), however, TBERF continued to fund the project for two more years with an additional $108,736. This funding allows Eckerd College students to conduct research on microplastics in the Tampa Bay area through a variety of research methods.

Our goal is to assess spatial and temporal trends in microplastic concentration in surface waters, to monitor the microplastic load in both small and large grazers, and to measure the microplastic concentrations in sediments and effluent from local wastewater treatment facilities.

Through this project, we hope to establish a sustainable microplastic monitoring program in Tampa Bay.


For any questions, please email us at: microplastic@eckerd.edu

Click the link above to view the photos taken over the past 3 years of this project.