With her bright pink hair and punk rock attitude, Cory Redwine may not look like your typical marine conservationist and habitat restoration specialist, but when this 50-something Merritt Island resident saw the health of her local waterways degrading, she jumped into action.
Redwine started by collecting trash along the beaches which she used in art installations. The “trash art” depicted colorful scenes of Florida fish and wildlife using everything from toothbrushes to plastic dolls. Her art was hung in restaurants around Brevard County, spurring interest and educating locals to a growing issue. But her efforts didn’t stop there. Redwine wanted to do more to restore Florida’s fragile coastal ecosystems by combining science, community action, and hands-on environmental work.
She linked up with several organizations and through these partnerships Redwine has spread more than 81 million clams and planted tens of thousands of mangroves throughout the area.
“I feel at one with nature,” Redwine says. “Getting in the water and seeing our efforts make a difference is magical. I’ve always believed that you have to practice what you preach. When you take your family to the beach, don’t step over a piece of trash, bring it back with you and maybe a little more.”
Project SeaSafe and Clean Water Collective
Redwine first began growing mangroves as a hobby more than 20 years ago, and through trial and error, she learned how to raise them so that they will survive after being replanted in the wild. As her mangrove efforts grew (literally), she needed buckets for seedlings and reached out to Star brite, a manufacturer of boat and RV cleaning products and fuel additives. The Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based company was eager to help and not only donated pallets of buckets, but brought Redwine on to expand the work through a collective effort entitled Project SeaSafe.
As Star Brite’s Project SeaSafe Conservation Director, Redwine has helped guide large-scale restoration projects throughout the Indian River Lagoon and surrounding waterways. Her work focuses on natural solutions that strengthen ecosystems while engaging local volunteers, students, and conservation partners. From replanting mangroves along eroding shorelines to planting millions of clams which act as natural water filtration systems, Redwine’s efforts are making a measurable impact on water quality and overall health of the waterways.
The restoration efforts and community involvement will take center stage at 5th annual – Star brite’s Project SeaSafe 2026 Clean Water Collective set for April 22–26, 2026, at the Old Fish House Bar & Grill in Grant, Florida. The event unites anglers, scientists, and the community for hands-on restoration and waterway clean ups. Guided by Redwine and supported by leaders like Dr. Todd Osborne, anglers and boaters can dive into projects that create measurable, lasting change for Florida’s ecosystems.
Restoring Shorelines With Mangroves
Mangroves play a critical role in protecting coastlines, preventing erosion, and providing habitat for crustaceans and fish. Under Redwine’s direction, Project SeaSafe mangrove initiatives restore living shorelines and stabilize vulnerable coastal zones. These projects not only rebuild habitat, they also protect nearby communities by buffering storm surge and improving water clarity.
Read Next: What Happens to Abandoned Boats?
Rebuilding Water Quality With Clams
Clam restoration is another cornerstone of Redwine’s conservation strategy. Working alongside Blair Wiggins who heads up the Indian River Lagoon Clam Restoration Project and Dr. Todd Osborne from the University of Florida Whitney Lab, Project SeaSafe facilitated the release of millions of clams into damaged waterways. Clams naturally filter large volumes of water daily,
removing excess nutrients and improving overall ecosystem health. These efforts are helping revive seagrass beds, increase biodiversity, and restore balance to the lagoon system.
A Community-Driven Mission
Redwine’s approach is rooted in collaboration. By bringing together regular citizens, environmental groups, schools, volunteers, and top industry brands/businesses, she has helped create a model for conservation that is accessible, educational, and impactful. Her leadership shows that meaningful change happens when people connect directly with the environments they seek to protect.
Supporting the Community
In 2021 Redwine founded a nonprofit land preservation initiative called Sea Redwine Preservation / Team Do Gooder. All donations go toward purchasing and preserving critical habitat for science, aquaculture and restoration before it’s destroyed or developed. It’s a long-term approach that affirms these valuable resources are protected for generations.
Redwine continues to inspire a new generation of environmental stewards — proving that restoration is not only possible, but powerful when driven by passion, science, and community.
“I’m not here to preach, I just want to do the work to help improve our waters, educate the community and get more people involved,” Redwine says.
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