A Lasting Legacy in Tampa Bay Conservation Inspiration through Art

As part of Super Bowl LV’s environmental efforts, The Florida Aquarium partnered with NFL Green and the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee to leave a lasting legacy in Tampa Bay. During NFL Green Week’s Dive 55 effort in January 2021, led by Pepsi Stronger Together and FORCE BLUE, a team of retired special operations military veterans, collected debris in the Gulf of Mexico, including fishing ropes, crab trap buoys, and more. Students from Hillsborough County Public Schools used what was collected to bring creativity and conservation together to design a piece of art that connects to the Tampa Bay environment.

Because plastic waste is harming wildlife and wild places at record levels, the consumption of single-use plastics and flow of plastics reaching our waterways must be significantly reduced. By turning trash into treasure, these student art pieces are meant to inspire audiences to consider the impact of plastics on Tampa Bay’s wildlife. This project was made possible through the support of Erin Saldino, K-12 Supervisor of Visual & Theatre Arts Education for Hillsborough County Public Schools.