Texas Sea Grant Intern Drives Efforts to Preserve Gulf Coast Marine Life

Rebecca Arcos with a monofilament recycling bin

The Texas Sea Grant Community Engaged Internship (CEI) program gives undergraduate students a chance to dive into meaningful coastal work, combining science, outreach and public service. This summer, Rebecca Arcos joined the program and has been working to protect marine life, connect with local communities and even helped inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.

“My time as a Texas Sea Grant intern has been an incredible experience so far,” Arcos said. “I have had the opportunity to learn and connect with many people who are passionate about coastal conservation.”

One of her main projects has been helping expand the Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program (MRRP), which keeps discarded fishing line out of the water to protect fish, birds and marine mammals from entanglement. Arcos has spent much of her time reaching out to bait and tackle shops along the coast, encouraging them to host recycling bins.

“I have been reaching out to tackle and bait shops to see if they would be interested in hosting a monofilament recycling bin,” she said. “These bins are very important because they keep fishing line out of our ocean and protect marine life.”

Arcos helped install bins in Rockport and at the jetties in Corpus Christi. She said one of the most rewarding parts of the project has been seeing how eager local business owners are to join the effort.

“When I called these tackle shops, the owners were so happy to hear about the program and were excited to have a bin at their store,” she said. “It has been extremely rewarding seeing the community want to be a part of this program because it shows they want to help conserve our coastal area.”

Beyond monofilament recovery, Arcos has been active in public outreach, helping educate anglers and families at fishing tournaments about sustainable practices and marine debris prevention. Sharing her knowledge and passion has become one of her favorite aspects of the internship.

“At these tournaments, I have had the opportunity to talk to adults and children about sustainable fishing practices,” she said. “Getting to experience sharing knowledge of a subject that I am learning more about and am very passionate about has really been a highlight of my internship.”

Alongside a fellow intern, Arcos even helped design a game board and marine debris trivia to engage younger audiences. The team debuted the activity at a kids’ fishing tournament and the response was overwhelmingly positive.

“They were all so engaged and were working together to try and solve the game,” she said. “Getting to see the impact that the game had on the kids is really powerful because they are the next generation who are going to protect the environment.”

Her summer has also included hands-on learning experiences with coastal infrastructure, water level monitoring, and even sea turtle conservation. One moment stood out in particular: attending a hatchling sea turtle release.

“It was a very special experience getting to see baby sea turtles walk into the ocean for the first time,” Arcos said. “I gained a deeper knowledge of sea turtles and the efforts taking place to protect them thanks to the director who stopped by and talked to the group.”

With her summer still underway, Arcos said she’s leaving the experience with a deeper understanding of coastal conservation and the power of community.

“Overall, this internship has been an incredible experience that I will never forget,” she said. “I have gained a greater appreciation for the Gulf Coast and the people working hard to protect it. I am excited to continue working with them this summer and getting to contribute to the impact they are leaving on the community.”

####

About Texas Sea Grant
Texas Sea Grant is a unique partnership that unites the resources of the federal government, the State of Texas and universities across the state to create knowledge, tools, products and services that benefit the economy, the environment and the citizens of Texas. It is administered through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and is one of 34 university-based Sea Grant Programs around the country. Texas Sea Grant is a non-academic research center at Texas A&M University. The program’s mission is to improve the understanding, wise use and stewardship of Texas coastal and marine resources.