TAMPA, Fla. — More than 1,000 volunteers will comb the shorelines of Port Tampa Bay Friday as part of the 4th annual Great Port Clean Up.

Last year, more than 800 volunteers removed 79,698 pounds of garbage from McKay Bay in two hours.

Port Tampa Bay is hoping to set a record this year for most garbage collected during the one-day annual event.

Garbage enters Tampa Bay, mostly from storm water drainage and from area roadways.  

Once in the water, most floating debris either moves out into the Gulf of Mexico or gets hung up along the shoreline in Mangrove areas.

Mangroves act as a filter, keeping trash hidden from view, but in compact areas, making it easier to remove.

“We are focusing our efforts to go into these areas where the debris is washed up during storms. And our dedicated volunteers, you know, they pull up their boots and they get in there and get dirty,” said Chris Cooley, Director of Environmental Affairs for Port Tampa Bay. “They are in those mangroves. That’s where the trash is hidden.”

Sixty volunteer teams will meet at 8 a.m. Friday in various locations around McKay Bay to start the cleanup.

Popular starting points include Fort DeSoto Park, Harbour Island, the Davis Island Boat Ramp and Gandy boat launch area.

View more information on the 4th annual Great Port Clean Up.