The Plastic Connection: Plastics in the IRL and Beyond

Brooke Blosser

Marine Resources Council

Join us at the Ted Moorhead Lagoon House for July's Lagoon at Noon with Marine Resources Council's own Science Communication & Outreach Coordinator, Brooke Blosser! Plastics, including microplastic particles, are ubiquitous in the marine environment. Estuaries are particularly at risk for increased plastic contamination because of their proximity to freshwater and saltwater systems. This talk will connect macroplastic contamination with microplastics, the impact of MRC's litter sweep program, and next steps for single-use plastics advocacy. It will conclude with a demonstration on how to contribute to a growing dataset of single-use plastic contamination in the IRL.

Normally, the Marine Resources Council's Litter Sweep Program takes place on the First Friday of each month. However, since this talk focuses on single-use plastics, we are moving the Litter Sweep to before the talk. If you are interested in joining for a volunteer litter sweep ahead of the Lagoon at Noon, you can join us from 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM by registering at https://dash.pointapp.org/events/642403.

The seminar will end with a live Q&A session. Given the limited seating in the Lagoon House and an increased demand for in-person tickets, there is a $5 in-person attendance fee. Please feel free to bring your own lunch. Coffee and cookies will be provided. Viewing Lagoon at Noon presentations via Zoom remains free. We thank you for your continued support of our Lagoon at Noon Program.

The Zoom link will be in your confirmation email. A recording of the presentation will be posted to MRC's YouTube page for future viewing.

About the Speakers

Brooke Blosser, M.S.

Brooke Blosser is the Science Communication & Outreach Coordinator for the Marine Resources Council. Prior to joining MRC in October of 2025, Brooke lived in Charleston, South Carolina, for eight years and received her Master's in Marine Biology from the College of Charleston. Her thesis focused on microplastic contamination of South Carolina oyster reefs. After a brief stint as a 6th-grade Earth Science teacher, Brooke pivoted her focus to environmental advocacy. As an environmental advocate, Brooke successfully passed a handful of single-use plastic ordinances throughout Charleston County, supported ongoing coalition efforts to preserve the deep-sea corals on the Blake Plateau, and served as a council member of the South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative. Since moving to Florida, Brooke has enjoyed getting to know the IRL community and learning about a new salt marsh ecosystem. When not talking about conservation, you can find her running the Eau Gallie Causeway with her dog, Bee, reading on the beach, or knitting.

July 2026 Lagoon at Noon

The Plastic Connection: Plastics in the IRL and Beyond