St. Pete Ocean Sweep

Trash Collection Tournament

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Hosted by Water Warrior Alliance

Partnered with the CIty of St. Petersburg

 

About the Event

The St. Pete Ocean Sweep is a large-scale environmental cleanup tournament dedicated to removing trash from waterways, shorelines, parks, and stormwater outfalls throughout Pinellas County.

Divers, boaters, anglers, and shoreline volunteers work together to remove pollution from the local environment and return to the host venue for the official trash weigh-in, awards ceremony, and community celebration.

Participation in the tournament is free and open to the public.

Proceeds from the event support Camp Coral SCUBA Camp scholarships, providing youth with opportunities to learn scuba diving, marine science, and environmental stewardship.

 

 

Our Impact

Water Warrior Alliance works year-round to protect Florida’s waterways.

Through community cleanup programs and Watergoat installations, the organization helps prevent and remove tens of thousands of pounds of trash from waterways each year.

The St. Peter Ocean Sweep mobilizes volunteers and environmental partners to take action and protect the marine environment that defines our community.

 

 

How the Tournament Works

Trash Collection Tournaments are organized similarly to fishing tournaments.

Participants register individually but compete as part of a team. Sample Team Flyer

Teams collect debris during the morning cleanup and return to the host location for the official weigh-in and judging.

After the weigh-in, participants gather for the awards ceremony, raffle drawing, and community celebration.

 

 

Tournament Divisions

Participants may compete in one division.

Waterborne Teams

Divers
Snorkelers
Kayakers
Anglers
Boaters

Shoreside Teams

Stormwater drains
Streets
Parks
Beaches

Youth Division

Participants 18 years old and under.

 

 

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First Light – Cleanup begins across Pinellas County.

12:00 PM – Event opens to the public. Check-in, sponsor booths, and eco-activities begin.

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM – Trash weigh-in.

1:00 PM – Lunch provided for volunteers and teams. Wristbands are distributed at weigh-in.

1:00PM - 3:00PM – Public Art Activity &  Youth Artivism: Vision to Voice Art Contest 

3:30 PM –  Art Contest Winners Announced & Awards ceremony.

4:30 PM – Raffle drawing and closing remarks.

Music and community celebration continues following the awards.

 

 

Prize Categories

Shoreside Division

Total Weight Collected
Most Unique Item
Seven Plastics Challenge

Waterborne Division

Total Weight Collected
Most Unique Item
Most Anchors Recovered

Adult and youth teams compete for prizes in each division.

Youth Division

1st Place

2nd Place

 

What Participants Receive

Participants receive:

Free tournament entry
Captain’s bucket with event swag and cleanup supplies
GreenPolly trash bags for debris collection
Lunch provided by Big Catch for volunteers and teams

Drink tickets for each participant and one free drink provided by 3Daughters Brewery & Tito's Handmade Vodka (21+)
Complimentary drink tickets 
SCUBA gear support for divers

 

 

Things We’ve Found at Past Ocean Sweeps

Every cleanup reveals unexpected discoveries. Over the years, teams have recovered a wide variety of items from Tampa Bay’s waters and shorelines.

Past discoveries include:

Boat anchors
Bicycles
Electric scooters
Tires
Shopping carts
Fishing traps
Dock lines and ropes
Crab traps
Construction debris
Plastic bottles and packaging

Teams also compete for the Most Unique Item category during the tournament.

 

 

🎨Turn Trash Into Art!🎨

Recovered debris does not always go to the landfill.

Many items collected during Ocean Sweep events are repurposed into environmental art, transforming pollution into visual reminders of the importance of protecting our waterways.

From 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM a public art activity and art contest will be held! This activity is open to the public and is all ages, participants are encouraged to bring their art to the art contest.  

In the Vision to Voice: Artivism Contest, Youth Participants will use recovered materials, along with other provided mediums, to create artwork that reflects environmental challenges and solutions!

Art Contest Winners will be announced at 3:30PM. 

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Suggested Cleanup Locations

Cleanup teams will work throughout St. Petersburg and surrounding coastal areas to remove debris from waterways, shorelines, parks, and stormwater systems.

Shoreside Locations

Grandview Park (High Need)
Dell Holmes Park
Lakewood Estates
Wildwood Park
Jordan Park
Blackthorn Memorial
Gandy Beach
Campbell Park
Childs Park

Waterborne Locations

Waterfront communities
Nearshore beach areas
Mangrove shorelines
Intracoastal waterways
Under docks and seawalls

All teams return to Harborage Marina High & Dry for the official weigh-in.

 

 

Volunteer Roles

There are many ways to participate in the St. Pete Ocean Sweep.

Waterborne Teams

Divers, snorkelers, boaters, anglers, and kayakers remove debris from waterways, docks, mangroves, and seafloor areas.

Shoreside Teams

Volunteers remove trash from parks, beaches, neighborhoods, and stormwater drains.

Youth Artivism Participants

Students participate in the Vision to Voice Art Contest, creating artwork from recovered debris to raise awareness about pollution.

Event Volunteers

Additional volunteers assist with:

Registration and check-in
Trash sorting and weigh-in
Environmental education booths
Raffle and awards coordination

 

 

Past Ocean Sweep Highlights

Each Ocean Sweep brings the community together to make a measurable impact.

Past events have included:

Hundreds of volunteers working together
Divers and boaters removing debris from Tampa Bay
Shoreline teams cleaning parks and neighborhoods
Environmental organizations and local businesses supporting the event
Youth artists transforming recovered materials into environmental art

These efforts help prevent pollution from entering Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

 

 

Media and Community Engagement

Local media and environmental storytellers are invited to participate in the event.

Opportunities include:

Ride-alongs on cleanup vessels
Interviews with divers and volunteers
Coverage of the weigh-in and awards ceremony
Youth art contest features

The Ocean Sweep provides powerful visuals and stories about community action to protect the environment.

 

 

What to Bring

Participants should come prepared for outdoor cleanup activities.

Recommended items include:

Reusable water bottle
Hat and sun protection
Closed-toe shoes or water shoes
Gloves for debris collection
Sun protection or reef-safe sunscreen
Personal snorkeling or diving gear if participating in waterborne cleanup

Trash bags and basic cleanup supplies will be provided.

 

 

Sponsorship and Vendor Opportunities

Businesses and organizations are invited to participate through sponsorships, vendor booths, and team partnerships.

Sponsors will have the opportunity to connect with a community dedicated to protecting local waterways and supporting youth environmental education.

 

 

Join the War on Pollution

Gather your team, grab your gear, and help clean up St. Petersburg’s waters.

Participants will compete for the title of “Trashiest Team in St. Pete.”

Registration is free and open to the public.

 

 

Water Warrior Alliance
Uniting communities to combat marine pollution.