Smiling couple in front of the ocean, clear sky in the background.

Steward of the Keys: Carla Burns Directs the Conch Republic Marine Army

Men smiling and posing at a lively party with neon lights and a nautical theme.
Captain “Scat” (3rd from l, with sunglasses dangling from pocket) with buddies at Schooner Wharf Bar in Key West during a recent Conch Republic Independence Days Celebration. Credit: Carla Burns

Hands-On Woman

Carla Burns, executive director of the Conch Republic Marine Army (CRMA), is a hands-on woman. These days, the former teacher who became a health care insurance project manager, thrives on getting her hands dirty and mucking about in the Keys’ back-country.

Trash collecting and debris removal, however, were not among career goals for the Maryland native who’s also a mountain climber, cave diver, runner of marathons and global traveler.

Burns assumed the position of executive director of CRMA in January from Bryan Vest, who founded the nonprofit organization after Hurricane Irma impacted Islamorada and the Lower Keys in September 2017. Vest still serves on the nonprofit organization’s board of directors.

As a remote worker handling daily tasks of insurance process redesign while living in the Keys, “I started feeling so disconnected. I wanted to feel more like a part of the community,” Burns said.

Small motorboat with people, blue canopy, flags waving, on open water.
Conch Republic Marine Army volunteers enjoy a complimentary boat outing on scenic Keys waters and work to remove marine debris, fishing trap lines – even refrigerators. Credit: Carla Burns

Global Volunteers

CRMA, established to clean and restore Florida Keys marine habitats, has taken out more than 6,000 participating volunteers to the back-country’s nearshore mangrove islands. These volunteers — hailing from as far as Germany, the United Kingdom and California — participate in complimentary boating excursions to clean up Keys’ waters.

The trips-with-a-purpose are not all work, however. The expeditions include free time to explore a sandbar, swim and sun, and enjoy donated lunches and cold beverages.

“My passion is I absolutely love it. I’m a deckhand,” Burns said. “The hardest thing I have to do is tell our volunteers that ‘Time’s up!’ “

The organization’s newest vessel — its third, named K4 and donated by a Ramrod Key resident — has launched out of the Lower Keys’ Looe Key Dive Resort on Cudjoe Key with trips on Tuesdays.

Group of smiling people in casual attire indoors.
Conch Republic Marina Army members enjoy comradery at Key West’s Kaya Island Eats during a ‘Conch Republic Military’ meeting, preparing for a recent Conch Republic Independence Days Celebration battle reenactment. (l to r): Natalino Scappaticci, board president; Duane Schlabach, captain; Ann Schlabach, deck hand; Brian Vest, founder; Jennifer Chandonnet, standing; Mark Chandonnet , board vice president; Carla Burns, executive director; and Scat Fisher, lead captain and Burns’ husband. Credit: Carla Burns

Significant Impact

So far, the organization has removed more than 300 tons of trash from Keys water. That’s nearly 600,000 pounds of debris including 3.4 million feet of trap line that could stretch more than 700 miles long and 105 refrigerators.

CRMA is partnered with Marathon’s Isla Bella Beach Resort to run morning and afternoon trips on Wednesdays and Saturdays, taking resort guests and locals offshore for clean-up activities.

“Carla has played a key role in the success of the CRMA project at Isla Bella,” said Sean Roberts, director of guest experience at Isla Bella Beach Resort. “Carla and her team have collected more than 60,000 pounds of trash from the Isla Bella site alone, demonstrating their significant impact on our local community. We are proud to support her and the entire CRMA team with the resources needed to sustain their valuable conservation efforts.”

CRMA also runs trips out of Stock Island on Saturdays from The Perry Marina on Stock Island into the ocean and mangrove backcountry, removing 25,000 pounds of marine debris from that area.

Woman in tie-dye shirt wading in water, holding a pan and surfboard.
Carla Burns, Conch Republic Marina Army’s executive director, enjoys getting out into the back-country to remove marine debris and trap lines. Credit: Carla Burns

Lead by Example

In her new role, Burns is forging partnerships with eco-organizations to clean up Keys waters, which are protected by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. “We specialize with what we’re doing but are collaborating with different groups,” Burns said.

In May, CRMA teamed up with Islamorada’s I.CARE dive organization for its third annual Trash Derby, which awarded more than $3,000 in prizes for debris collected.

CRMA “proved to be an unstoppable force” during its first participation in I.CARE’s Trash Derby, said Amanda Hudon, I.CARE’s Trash Deby coordinator.

“CRMA continues to lead by example. Their impressive haul earned them top honors not only within their division, but across the entire event — taking home the title for the most debris removed,” Hudon said. “CRMA’s efforts resulted in nearly 8,900 pounds of marine debris removed in just two days from Keys waters.”

Person smiling and climbing among tree branches, wearing a bright green shirt and cap.
Carla Burns, executive director of the Conch Republic Marine Army, is a hands-on leader, cleaning up debris in Florida Keys mangroves. Credit: Carla Burns

Future Goals

Burns’ future goals include increased participation with like-minded nonprofits, including Coast Love’s initiative, “Plant a Million Mangroves,” with the planting of mangrove seedlings grown at Summerland Key’s Summerland Farms, which is also home to “Plant a Million Corals.”

She also hopes to acquire a fourth boat to respond to frequent reports of marine debris in the Lower Keys’ Geiger Key and in the Upper Keys.

Burns and husband, “Scat” first met in the gym and bonded over their active lifestyle. They have five children, ages 27 to 35. and live on Big Pine Key. “Scat,” active in CRMA as a boat captain, is also a former insurance employee and native of Maryland. The nickname of “Scat” dates back to his middle school years.

Carla Burns

Keys Traveler: When did you first come to the Florida Keys and why?

Carla Burns: In 2014 for a checkout dive. We returned in 2016 to an amazing experience getting our Underwater Hunter certification with Islamorada Dive Center and to find a place in South Florida so we could continue our love for the water. As we left the Keys to find a place on the mainland, we saw a for-rent sign. That apartment wouldn’t allow two people. After three days of searching on the mainland we realized how special the Keys are. Six weeks later we moved to Islamorada.

KT: What aspects of the Keys environment or way of life matter most to you?

CB: What I love about the Florida Keys is the unique balance between ‘live and let live,’ and ‘don’t you dare harm the environment’! The locals here are so loving and accepting. ‘One Human Family’ is not just a saying here. That said, we are equally passionate about the environment. I love the care that so many have for the mangroves, clean water and the wildlife that’s dependent on them.

KT: What inspired you to become passionate about protecting the Keys’ natural world and how does that passion impact your daily life and work?

CB: When we arrived in 2017, we thought our impact was very ‘normal’. We were careful with our trash, careful about anchoring our boat so as not to disturb the sea floor, basic stuff. After Irma, we heard about the devastation of the Lower Keys. We were pretty stable in the Upper Keys and saw a Facebook post to help clean up on Big Pine Key. We jumped right in and didn’t back away. As part of our work with CRMA, we have continued to grow in our knowledge and understanding of exactly how out-of-control marine debris and its impact on the environment and wildlife is.

I often get a lot of questions about ‘how does this happen’? I think that in general, the human lifestyle creates trash and there’s a delicate balance between the need to cover everything clean with plastic coverings, food especially, and finding economic alternatives.

KT: How do you personally work to ‘connect and protect’ the Keys’ environment and the island chain’s unique lifestyle?

CB: We focus on getting ourselves and others to do the best they can and then do a little more. The two changes I’ve made personally to reduce my environmental impact is reusable water bottles and containers. No more single-use plastic bottles and plastic sandwich bags. If we expect ‘doggie bags’ when going out to dinner, we bring a few reusable containers rather than taking restaurant-offered Styrofoam or cardboard containers.

KT: What do you hope your environmental actions in the Keys will help to accomplish?

CB: I remember when COVID hit, and The Florida Keys were shut down for six weeks. I also recall people more involved with the environment talking about how amazingly the reefs bounced back after just a six-week break. At the same time, it’s always about balance. We need to find a way that we can experience and share the beauty without impacting it to the point where it needs a break every few years, so that’s where I stay focused.