The 21st Annual Mississippi Coastal Cleanup was held on October 17, 2009. About 3,770 volunteers collected 3,120 bags of trash (about 49,305 pounds) along 144 miles of Mississippi Gulf Coast and barrier islands waterways. These are photos submitted by volunteers and members of the Mississippi Marine Debris Task Force. Click on any thumbnail to view the picture full-sized.

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2009 Marine Debris Task Force
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
        
The 2009 Marine Debris Task Force. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.        
         
Barrier Islands        
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
      
"Look what we caught," the Barrier Islands team seems to be saying. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources. A group shot of the Barrier Islands cleanup team. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.      
         
Hancock County
Photo courtesy of Maria Salter.
Photo courtesy of Maria Salter.
Photo courtesy of Maria Salter.
Photo courtesy of Maria Salter.
Photo courtesy of Maria Salter.
Volunteers at Cedar Point strike a pose for the group shot. Photo courtesy of Maria Salter. Gretchen Fleming and Pam Ladner do their part at Cedar Point. Photo courtesy of Maria Salter. Gretchen Fleming, Pam Ladner, and Courtney pitch in to help the cleanup effort. Photo courtesy of Maria Salter. Another group shot of the Cedar Point cleanup team. Photo courtesy of Maria Salter. More team members at the Cedar Point cleanup. Photo courtesy of Maria Salter.
         
Photo courtesy of Maria Salter.
Photo courtesy of Maria Salter.
Photo courtesy of Maria Salter.
Photo courtesy of Maria Salter.
Lora Parkinson and Maela are part of the team. Photo courtesy of Maria Salter.
Pam Ladner and Courtney continue their efforts. Photo courtesy of Maria Salter.
Ruth, Corrina, Ray, Gretchen Fleming, Pam Ladner and Courtney haul in the big loads. Photo courtesy of Maria Salter.
 Michael joins the others. Photo courtesy of Maria Salter.
Wait! That's not Michael, it's Maela! Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
         
Photo courtesy of Maria Salter.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Wiley, Corrina, Ann, and Tracey police the area. Photo courtesy of Maria Salter.
A group of students from USM Hattiesburg clean up in the Cedar Point area. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
A mother and daughter clean up the beach in Bay St. Louis. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
 Volunteers walk the shoreline, bags in hand. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
A group cleans up the beach in Bay St. Louis near St. Stanislaus. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
         
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
      
A volunteer cleans the marsh at South Beach Blvd. by the Bay-Waveland bridge. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Volunteers clean the marsh at South Beach Blvd. near the Bay-Waveland bridge. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
      
 
Harrison County
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.

Supply/registration station near Courthouse Road. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.

 Zone Captain meeting at the Department of Marine Resources. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources. Lauren Thompson (right) and Jolie Spears (left) hosted the Zone Captain meeting. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources. Jolie Spears (left) explains the duties of a Zone Captain as Lauren Thompson (right) looks on. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources. Zone Captains discuss logitics in the hallway. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
         
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.

Jolie Spears (center) seems to be losing it. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.

 Smile! You're on Candid Camera. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources. "It's just the right thing to do, you know?" Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources. Jolie and her helpers prepare to load up Zone Captains' vehicles with supplies. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
         
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.

Now how on earth am I supposed to fit all of that in there? Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.

 A Zone Captain begins loading supplies. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources. "It's like Christmas, except... not." Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources. It's nice to have a big strong man around the office. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.

Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.

 Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.

Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.

 Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.
         
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.

Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.

 Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.

High Cotton Grill provided lunch for volunteers in Harrison County. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.

 Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. "Not me; what I'm holding!" Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. Those are .22 caliber shells. Someone call NCIS! Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.

Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.

 Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. Volunteers could enjoy a nice lunch in the shade. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.

Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.

 Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.

Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.

 Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. 105.9 GOFM was on the scene with music to clean to. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
         
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy ofLauren Thompson. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. Dina Myers, Brandon Frizzle, and Bo Myers do their part ot help keep our beaches clean. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. A trashy photo. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.

Zone Captain Karen Livengood (in yellow) greets a volunteer. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.

Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. A rare shot of Lauren's shadow! Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
         
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Beth D'Aquilla.
Photo courtesy of Beth D'Aquilla.
Photo courtesy of Beth D'Aquilla.
Photo courtesy of Beth D'Aquilla.

Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.

 Allen Hughes walks the beach in Long Beach, looking for trash. Photo courtesy of Beth D'Aquilla. Amanda Gaskin searches for debris among the sea oats in Long Beach. Photo courtesy of Beth D'Aquilla. Buck Lawrence patrols a section of Long Beach. Photo courtesy of Beth D'Aquilla. David Smith returns his finds to the Long Beach collection point. Photo courtesy of Beth D'Aquilla.
         
Photo courtesy of Beth D'Aquilla.
Photo courtesy of Beth D'Aquilla.
Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.

Lance Middleton of Long Beach displays a tarp he has retrieved. Photo courtesy of Beth D'Aquilla.

 Regina Lawrence fights to open her collection bag on the shore of Long Beach. Photo courtesy of Beth D'Aquilla. Volunteers gather at Courthouse Pier for lunch, provided by High Cotton Grill. Photo courtesy of Department of Marine Resources.    
         
Jackson County
Photo courtesy of Ocean Springs Rotary.
Photo courtesy of Ocean Springs Rotary.
Photo courtesy of John Grigsby.
Photo courtesy of John Grigsby.
Photo courtesy of John Grigsby.
Photo courtesy of Ocean Springs Rotary. Photo courtesy of Ocean Springs Rotary. A volunteer approaches the lunch site in Gautier, displaying her tote bag provided by Chevron. Photo courtesy of John Grigsby. A volunteer brings his find to the dumpster at the Pascagoula River Basin Estuarine Education Center in Gautier. Photo courtesy of John Grigsby. David Sliman (left), Joyce Shaw (middle), and two unidentified volunteers man the meeting point on East Beach in Ocean Springs. Photo courtesy of John Grigsby.
         
Photo courtesy of John Grigsby.
Photo courtesy of John Grigsby.
Photo courtesy of John Grigsby.
Photo courtesy of John Grigsby.
Photo courtesy of John Grigsby.
Debris awaiting pick up at the Pascagoula River Basin Estuarine Education Center in Gautier. Photo courtesy of John Grigsby. Despite the wait for lunch, most volunteers seemed in good spirits at the Estuarine Education Center in Gautier. Photo courtesy of John Grigsby. A group of volunteers partrols Front Beach in Ocean Springs. Photo courtesy of John Grigsby. The Front Beach command post seems to be in capable hands. Photo courtesy of John Grigsby. Volunteers at the Ocean Springs Small Craft Harbor enjoy the company of friends while helping save the environment. Photo courtesy of John Grigsby.
         
Photo courtesy of John Grigsby.
Photo courtesy of John Grigsby.
Photo courtesy of John Grigsby.
Photo courtesy of John Grigsby.
Photo courtesy of John Grigsby.
Volunteers at the Ocean Springs Small Craft Harbor confer. Photo courtesy of John Grigsby. Paddlers approach at the Fort Bayou boat launch in Ocean Springs. Photo courtesy of John Grigsby. The Shed offered a free lunch to volunteers in Jackson County at the Pascagoula River Basin Estuarine Education Center. Photo courtesy of John Grigsby. A volunteer in St. Andrews gets some fishing in while working. Photo courtesy of John Grigsby. A large team of volunteers scours Front Beach for debris.Photo courtesy of John Grigsby.
         
Photo courtesy of John Grigsby.
Photo courtesy of John Grigsby.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Volunteers along Front Beach in Ocean Springs. Photo courtesy of John Grigsby. We love having our picture taken at the Small Craft Harbor in Ocean Springs, MS! Photo courtesy of John Grigsby. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. The Gulf Park Estates Command Center in Ocean Springs is a Coastal Cleanup staple. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
         
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson.
Photo courtesy of Shelly Becker.
Photo courtesy of Shelly Becker.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. Photo courtesy of Lauren Thompson. Photo courtesy of Shelly Becker. Photo courtesy of Shelly Becker.
         
Photo courtesy of Shelly Becker.
Photo courtesy of Shelly Becker.
Photo courtesy of Shelly Becker.
Photo courtesy of Shelly Becker.
Photo courtesy of Shelly Becker.
Photo courtesy of Shelly Becker. Photo courtesy of Shelly Becker. Photo courtesy of Shelly Becker. Photo courtesy of Shelly Becker. Photo courtesy of Shelly Becker.
         
Photo courtesy of Shelly Becker.
Photo courtesy of Shelly Becker.
Photo courtesy of Shelly Becker.
Photo courtesy of Shelly Becker.
Photo courtesy of Shelly Becker.
Photo courtesy of Shelly Becker. Photo courtesy of Shelly Becker. Photo courtesy of Shelly Becker. Photo courtesy of Shelly Becker. Photo courtesy of Shelly Becker.
         
Photo courtesy of Shelly Becker.
Photo courtesy of Mark Ross.
Photo courtesy of Mark Ross.
Photo courtesy of Mark Ross.
Photo courtesy of Mark Ross.
Photo courtesy of Shelly Becker. Photo courtesy of Mark Ross. Photo courtesy of Mark Ross. Photo courtesy of Mark Ross. Photo courtesy of Mark Ross.
         
Photo courtesy of Mark Ross.
Photo courtesy of Mark Ross.
Photo courtesy of Mark Ross.
Photo courtesy of Mark Ross.
Photo courtesy of Mark Ross.
Photo courtesy of Mark Ross. Photo courtesy of Mark Ross. Photo courtesy of Mark Ross. Photo courtesy of Mark Ross. Photo courtesy of Mark Ross.
         
Photo courtesy of Mark Ross.
Photo courtesy of Mark Ross.
Photo courtesy of Mark Ross.
Photo courtesy of Mark Ross. Photo courtesy of Mark Ross. Photo courtesy of Mark Ross.