For Immediate Release

Galveston, Texas (Nov. 14, 2014) – Endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles and other marine wildlife can easily mistake plastic bags for food because floating in the ocean they look similar to a jellyfish. To save sea turtles from a deadly bite of plastic, Turtle Island Restoration Network (SeaTurtles.Org) is teaming up with Surfrider’s Galveston Chapter and Clean Galveston to encourage residents and tourists to ‘Bring the Bag’ and reduce single-use plastic bag pollution in Galveston, Texas.

Today, Turtle Island, Clean Galveston and Surfrider will be kicking off the Bring the Bag initiative at Austin Middle School.  Students will be able to recycle plastic bags at their school from now up to Earth Day.

“Endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles come to nest on our beaches, and swim in waters off our shore, so encouraging Galveston residents to ‘Bring the Bag’ is an easy way to save these sea turtles from dangerous encounters with plastic bags,” said Joanie Steinhaus, the associate campaign director for Turtle Island’s Gulf Office, which recently opened a new Sea Turtle Action Center located at 2228 Broadway, Galveston, Texas 77550.

Galveston residents can participate in the ‘Bring the Bag’ initiative and help keep our oceans clean, by remembering to use reusable grocery bags when they shop.