Submitted by Belinda Ringpfeil

GULF SHORES, Ala. — Participants 11-13 years old in the July 9-13th Coral Reef Camp at Faulkner Gulf Shores designed coral and reef marine life from plastics headed to the recycling center or the trash to bring awareness of the overuse of plastics by our society.

Plastics are entering the waterways and ocean in large numbers, yet they don’t biodegrade, just only break into tiny pieces. Fish and other marine animals are consuming the plastics and this is affecting nature’s food chain.

Our ocean is fragile and extremely important; it covers 70 percent of our Earth. We would like to ask others to reduce the amount of plastics purchased and if necessary to buy plastic, make the choice to purchase only long lasting plastics, rather than disposables. For more information: www.washedashore.org or www.youtube.com Pacific garbage patch by Cousteau.