📸: Photo courtesy of Rodrigo Butori
Who are you? What do you do?
I’m the founder of Plastic Fisherman, a global project that uses art and creativity to create awareness about the marine plastic pollution issue.
If you could give any one piece of advice to locals, what would it be?
People all over the country are moving their lives and businesses to Miami for a reason: they realized there’s a better, more balanced work-life relationship, and this city has it all.
Preserving our beaches, bay waters, and ecosystems means preserving our lifestyle and what makes us special as a destination, bringing long-term economic benefits. The definition of sustainability is to fulfill the needs of today’s generation without compromising the needs of future ones, while ensuring a balance between economic growth, environmental care and social well-being.
Miami has everything going for it to become an example of a modern, sustainable city. We just need to align our compasses and collective work towards that goal.
What’s your favorite local social media account to follow and why?
I’m biased, of course, but I love checking all of the other Plastic Fisherman accounts on Instagram.
To think that we started the #plasticfishing movement right here on our beaches, and now to see it happening all over the world with accounts in Germany, Japan, Brazil, Spain, Uruguay and even Mauritius Islands is such a treat!
Wax poetic for a minute and tell us: what brings you most alive about this city?Â
Tourists from all over the world travel to Miami to have a good time. I love the idea of living in a place where people come to be happy.
What’s an unpopular opinion you have about the city?
I can’t stand reggaeton. Sorry, folks.
How does Miami help you do what you do or influence your work?
Stressed about work? Just step outside for a few hours, look around you, and let perspective sink in. Even sitting in traffic on the Julia Tuttle Causeway is a beautiful scene. Somedays it feels like I’m cheating at life.
What’s your favorite Miami memory?
Crossing to the Bahamas on a boat and spending the weekend diving in the islands with my wife and daughter.
If you could eat only one meal from a local restaurant for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Malai Kofta, Lamb Biryani, and Kashmiri Naan from Zaika. I’m a sucker for Indian food.
Outside of the obvious stop above, share your other top destinations for where you’d go on your perfect Miami day.
Plastic fishing in Surfside, diving the Fowey Rocks Lighthouse area, and chilling in the Stiltsville sandbars.
What are you looking forward to this year?
Winter! From the weather to Art Basel to surfing, you can’t beat winter in Miami.
That’s a wrap on this week’s Locals to Know. Know someone who ought to be featured or would like to be featured yourself? Reach out by sending an email to [email protected] with the subject line “TNT Locals to Know 2022.” If chosen, you might just see yourself or a friend in a future newsletter.