For Immediate Release, September 3, 2026
Contacts: Joanie Steinhaus, Ocean Program Director, joanie@seaturtles.org
Brittany McWhorter, Gulf of Mexico Environmental Program Coordinator, brittany@seaturtles.org
What’s Hiding in Galveston’s Sand?
Local Volunteers Join the Microplastic Task Force to Tackle Tiny Plastic Pollution Threatening Marine Life
Galveston, Texas — Microplastics may be nearly invisible to the naked eye, but they’re turning up along Galveston’s beaches and in coastal waters — and local volunteers are helping scientists understand just how much is out there. On September 10 from 6–7 p.m. CT, Turtle Island Restoration Network (TIRN) will host a free virtual information meeting for community members interested in joining its Microplastic Task Force.
The volunteer-powered citizen science program collects and processes sand and water samples from around Galveston Island, identifying the types and quantities of microplastics present. The data is helping build a clearer picture of how this pervasive pollution is affecting the Galveston Bay ecosystem and the marine wildlife that depends on it.
TIRN’s microplastic research began in 2017 and has engaged volunteers, students and interns in collecting and analyzing samples. From 2021–2024, TIRN partnered with the Environmental Institute of Houston at the University of Houston-Clear Lake on a comprehensive study of microplastics throughout the Galveston Bay watershed.
The September 10 meeting will introduce participants to the program, explain how samples are collected and analyzed, share what the research has revealed so far, and explore the impacts of microplastics on marine wildlife and ocean health.
“Our microplastics task force is a diverse group of folks interested in gaining hands-on experience investigating microplastics in sand and shoreline water samples along Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.” Brittany McWhorter, TIRN’s Environmental Program Coordinator continues, “we’re able to use this data to advocate for stronger macro and micro-plastic policies at the local, state and federal levels to protect our ocean wildlife and communities alike!”
The meeting is free and open to anyone interested in learning more or becoming involved in local microplastic research. Zoom information will be provided upon registration.
WHEN: September 10, 2026, 6–7 p.m. CT
WHERE: Online via Zoom
RSVP: Register here
To learn more about Turtle Island Restoration Network, visit https://seaturtles.org.
Turtle Island Restoration Network is a global ocean conservation nonprofit with offices in California and Texas, whose mission is to inspire and mobilize people around the world to protect marine biodiversity, the oceans and watersheds that sustain all life on Earth.
