The National Oceanic and Atmospheric as cigarette filters, food wrappers, What Is Administration defines marine debris beverage bottles and cans, grocery Marine Debris? as any persistent solid material that and trash bags, and fishing line, nets is manufactured or processed and and gear, can travel for hundreds directly or indirectly, intentionally of thousands of miles on ocean or unintentionally, disposed of or currents, posing a threat to ocean abandoned into the marine environment ecosystems and wildlife along the or the Great Lakes. Since the 1960s, way. Consequently, marine debris has the world’s dependence upon natural become one of the most widespread materials has been largely replaced pollution problems facing the world’s with durable, highly buoyant synthetic oceans and waterways. items. Once they enter the ocean environment these products, such

marine debris has become one of the most pervasive pollution problems facing the world’s NOAA PIFSC oceans and waterways.

Where Does It While the types of debris are as diverse facilities; and as the products found around the • Sewage overflows. Come From? world, it all shares a common origin – people. Since trash can travel long distances before settling on shorelines Ocean/waterway-based sources or the ocean floor, determining exactly People also generate debris while at how debris reaches the ocean can be sea. Like land-based debris, much difficult. In an effort to understand the of the ocean/waterway-based debris activities that cause debris, researchers reaches the ocean through people’s traditionally classify marine debris failure to properly dispose of or stow as coming from land- or ocean/ their trash while onboard their boats waterway-based sources. and vessels. Ocean-based debris also includes derelict (lost or abandoned) fishing gear. Natural disasters, such Land-based sources as hurricanes and storms, can also People’s mishandling of waste materials deposit debris into the ocean. and a host of other items while on Sources of ocean/waterway-based land constitutes a good portion of the debris include: marine debris we see on shorelines. • Abandoning or losing fishing gear, Debris is also blown into the water or including line, nets, ropes, bait carried by creeks, rivers, storm drains, boxes, fish tags, and trawl floats; and sewers into the ocean. • Intentional or inadvertent discharge Sources of land-based debris include: of trash, galley waste and boating • Inappropriate disposal of trash from materials, including oil lube bottles, many land-based activities, including engine cleaning and maintenance picnicking, beachgoing, fishing, and products; and waterside sporting events; • Inappropriate handling of undersea • Debris items from lawns, parking exploration and oil and gas extraction lots, streets, and storm drains being items, including hard hats, sheeting blown, swept or washed out to and tarps, computer equipment and sea; survey materials. • Inappropriate handling of packaging materials; • Inadvertent or intentional release of waste from shore-based solid waste disposal and waste processing

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION Impacts of Marine Debris

In addition to being unsightly, marine Effects on people debris poses significant threats to ocean • Medical and personal hygiene debris ecosystems, wildlife, and human health can enter waterways when sewer and safety. systems fail or overflow. These items often contain harmful bacteria Effects on ocean ecosystems and pathogens. • Abandoned nets, plastic tarps, • Syringes, broken glass and fishing gear and other debris can other hazardous items pose smother and crush sensitive coral obvious dangers to bare-footed reef and seagrass bed ecosystems beachgoers. and their benthic (bottom-dwelling) B. Billand • Grocery and trash bags, fishing species. line, nets, rope, and other debris Effects on marine wildlife can wrap around boat propellers • Fishing line, nets, rope and grocery and clog seawater intakes, causing and trash bags can entangle, maim, costly damage and becoming a and even drown many wildlife safety hazard. species, including sea turtles, marine mammals, seabirds, and other species. • Cigarette filters, food bags, pieces of plastic, and packaging look like food to many animals. Once ingested, these materials can cause NOAA PMNM starvation and possibly even death.

Working Toward Solutions While an important first step, physically federal agencies are collaborating on problem and how to prevent it. removing existing debris only provides outreach projects designed to bring temporary relief to the problem. The awareness to and alleviate the problem For more information on programs only way to truly manage the marine of marine debris. Several efforts are that are working to foster change, visit debris pollution issue is through focusing on monitoring the behaviors www.MarineDebris.noaa.gov. prevention – changing the behaviors and activities that result in marine that cause marine debris to enter the debris and developing prevention environment. Consequently, multiple strategies that educate people on organizations and local, state, and marine debris issues, their role in the

What You Can Do Here are some steps that you can take to help solve the marine debris problem:

• Reduce, reuse, recycle. Choose proper disposal on land. At the reusable items and use fewer beach, park or playground, dispose disposable ones (e.g., use fewer of all trash in the proper receptacles disposable bags when shopping, or or take your trash home with you. bring your own reusable bags). Pick up any debris you see while • Retain all pieces of fishing line, out. net, or other litter for proper • Serve as an example to others. Get disposal in trash containers. involved in cleanups in your area • Keep streets, sidewalks, parking and encourage others to help keep lots, and storm drains free of trash the beaches and oceans clean. – remember our land and ocean are • Learn about the problem of marine connected. debris and its impacts then tell your • Stow all trash on your boat for friends and family! NOAA RC

www.MarineDebris.noaa.gov