SSCI team member Stacy Emerick lead the clean-up crew known as the Vilmaris Crew to help clean the beach along Pelican Island.  The cleanup was organized by the Mountain Ocean Project (MOP) an organization that has removed over 7,200 pounds of trash from the beaches of Galveston, Texas. Participants in the beach cleanup included over 150 individuals with groups from SSCI and the Save Our Seas – Texas A&M University at Galveston. Save Our Seas is a student organized network supporting conservation efforts and healthy lifestyles through education and participation in environmental outreach.