By John Gagnon
Slug-A-Bug Logistics Coordinator

The Spoil Islands are among the truly great treasures that grace Brevard County. We at Slug-A-Bug, along with other concerned residents, are working to keep it that way.

The islands make wonderful recreational getaways. People relax, camp, fish and enjoy the water off these human-created landmarks. Unfortunately, that also means people leave behind trash and various broken items that hinder the experience for others.

Slug-A-Bug is responding to this problem by “adopting” an island (BC47) and dispatching teams periodically to do cleanups. In March, we had our first cleanup event. The team removed 170 pounds of trash and debris, while also clearing paths and taking out trees that were impeding airflow. 

My love of the Spoil Islands goes way back. My wife, Chrissy, and our family have enjoyed them for many years. When times were tough financially, it afforded us an inexpensive vacation spot close by.

Chrissy, a native of Malabar, played on the islands as a child while her father built a home on VIP Island in Grant-Valkaria. We’ve spent a lot of time on these islands with the kids, relaxing on the sandbars, watching dolphins and manatees swim past. But we always respected the islands, being careful not to leave behind any litter. We would even bring back other people’s trash.

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, problems with the Spoil Islands worsened noticeably. There was more traffic on them because they provided vacation spots where there was little close contact with others. That meant an increase in litter and junk. We knew we had to get involved.

Friends of the Spoil Islands came to our attention a few years ago. Through the organization, people “adopt” an island and commit to cleaning it four times a year. We discussed doing that as a family, but decided to present the idea to my employer, Slug-A-Bug. The island cleanup is consistent with the core values of the company, which places high importance on environmental stewardship. 

I approached Steve Lum, our president, and asked if he would like Slug-A-Bug to adopt the island. He was all in, authorizing whatever was necessary to make it happen. Along with adopting the island, Steve and I discussed our involvement in the various charities the company supports. We came up with a campaign and a slogan: “Be part of the solution.”

That’s exactly what we’re doing on our adopted Spoil Island. And we’re having fun in the process.