Litter on Beaches: Collaborating to Assess and Mitigate the Problem

Jen Kennedy, Executive Director, [email protected] Meredith Collins, NH State Parks, [email protected] Blue Ocean Society Major Programs

Marine Debris Research and Cleanup Outreach to Schools

Whale Watches & Whale Research Blue Ocean Discovery Center The Division of Natural and Cultural Resources: New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation

• The Division manages 92 properties' campgrounds, beaches, natural areas, waysides, historic sites and recreational trails. • The Division includes the following Management areas: v Bureau of Park Operations (State Parks) v Bureau of Trails v Bureau of Historic Sites v Cannon Mountain/Franconia Notch • The Division manages 7 Coastal beaches, as well as over 20 fresh water beaches. • Most parks have a “Carry in Carry Out” policy, meaning that visitors are responsible for removing their own trash.

For more information on New Hampshire State Parks please visit www.nhstateparks.org. Marine Debris •Trash that is found in or by the sea. •One of the most widespread problems facing the world’s oceans and waterways •How does it affect marine life? •Symptom of larger issue Where does it come from?

http://abcnews.go.com/ Marine Debris Impacts • Beach aesthetics (Nobody likes a dirty beach!) • Entanglement • Ingestion • Breakdown • Transmission of pollutants and invasive species Addressing the Problem

• Cleanups • Volunteers • Parks/NHFG lobster gear MOA • Beach Raking • Prevention: • Trash cans/recycling bins • Education • Blue Ocean Discovery Center, outreach programs • Great Park Pursuit • Interpreter program • Campaigns – fishing line recycling, Skip the Straw • Social media, e-blasts, blog (#TipTuesday) You are NH State Beaches here

• , New Castle • Hampton Beach, Hampton • North Beach, Hampton • North Hampton State Beach, North Hampton • Jenness Beach, Rye • , Rye • Wallis Sands, Rye Blue Ocean Society Beach Cleanups • From 2006-2016 on NH State Beaches • 13,806 volunteers (not all unique individuals)… amounting to ~14,000 vol hours • 37,154 pounds of litter picked up • More than 352,640 items Beach Raking/Curbside Pickup Info • Beach raking takes place every evening from Memorial Day to Labor Day. • One and a half mile stretch of beach. • Trash and recycling receptacles are located at every stairwell and are emptied manually multiple times per day.

Year 2014 2015 2016 2017 Unit TONS TONS TONS TONS Curb side 143.79 173.91 173.18 76.22 Beach Rake Data unavailable 157.13 160.08 Data unavailable

2,000LB = 1 Ton Top Ten, 2006-2016 Item # % 1Cigarette butts 229,299 65.7% 2Bottle caps 21,731 6.2% 3Plastic bags 14,246 4.1% 4Plastic beverage bottles 13,006 3.7% 5Straws 12,150 3.5% 6Rope ≥1m 12,040 3.5% 7Metal beverage cans 11,085 3.2% 8Styrofoam cups 8,543 2.4% 9Glass beverage bottles 5,126 1.5% 10Dog waste 3,347 1.0% Current & Future Plans Keep in Touch • Check us out online! – www.blueoceansociety.org – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram • NHmarinedebris.org • www.nhstateparks.org Acknowledgements • New Hampshire Coastal Program • NOAA • Ocean Conservancy

Questions? [email protected] 603-431-0260 [email protected] 603-227-8715