Marine Debris (Trash) By Ryan Maltz

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1 Marine Debris (Trash) By Ryan Maltz

2 What is Marine Debris? Appearing on the shores of beaches, as well as in the midst of oceans, lakes, and seas, marine debris is man-made litter that has been disposed into various coastal and marine environments, whether accidentally or intentionally.

- Land Sources: Poorly run garbage bins, dumps, landfills, and storm-run offs, spread the pollution of

4 Sources of Impact - Any human-created waste. - Types: Plastics, glass, metal, rubber, fishing gear, and derelict vessels. - Land Sources: Poorly run garbage bins, dumps, landfills, and storm-run offs, spread the pollution of medical waste, street liter, and sewage. - Ocean Sources: Galley waste, and ship traps are generated from recreational boaters and fishermen, as well as from offshore oil production facilities.

5 Why is this Happening? With growing populations, and an increase in the need for the manufactured items, does the amount of waste continue to rise. Anytime someone litters, their trash will likely end up in a body of water nearby, since their waste will be moved into a storm drain that s connected to the local lake, sea, ocean, etc. Natural disasters: key contributor to the spread of marine debris, as their high-speed winds, heavy rain, flooding, and tidal surges can carry trash from land into the ocean.

6 Affects on Marine Species & Ecosystems Animals, such as the Loggerhead Turtle, the Blue Whale, the Grey Nurse Shark, and the Wandering Albatross face risks of injury, illness, suffocation, starvation, and even death, because of entanglement. Thinking certain items are food, they may ingest harmful materials, leading to loss of nutrition, internal injury, intestinal blockage, starvation, and even death. Toxic chemicals residing in plastic items can cause reproductive issues for many fish, shellfish, and wildlife.

The coralline structures coral reefs possess can be severely harmed just by a simple piece of plastic wrapping

7 Affects on Marine Species & Ecosystems (cont d) Prevents immobile (sessile) plants from breathing, creating environments where life can t exist. The coralline structures coral reefs possess can be severely harmed just by a simple piece of plastic wrapping around it, as it reduces the amount of sunlight the coral receives. Fishing traps misplaced under water and forgotten about (ghost traps), are still able to capture fish and other wildlife.

- Temperature: Sometimes leads to colder environments, due to a lack of sunlight.

8 Abiotic Factors - Water: Toxins may be released into the water, which can harm both animals and humans. - Temperature: Sometimes leads to colder environments, due to a lack of sunlight. - Salinity: Little to no effects. - Light: Organisms don t receive the same amount of sunlight, as trash materials may cover them, causing severe damage.

Biotic Factors - Population: An estimated 100,00 marine mammals and sea turtles have been killed each year, as well as approximately 50,000 to 90,000 Northern Fur Seals dying as well.

9 Biotic Factors - Population: An estimated 100,00 marine mammals and sea turtles have been killed each year, as well as approximately 50,000 to 90,000 Northern Fur Seals dying as well. - Interactions Among Organisms: Can carry new organisms into parts of the ocean where they don t belong. -Trophic Relationships: May disrupt the food chain if any organisms become endangered. - Symbiotic Relationship: If one organism depends on another, and one of them dies, it can only negatively effect the other.

10 The Great Pacific Garbage Patch In between California and Hawaii there lays a massive pile of collected debris that is estimated to be double the size of Texas.

11 Size & Movement of Marine Debris

12 Effects on Humans Ships, vessels, and boats endure problems from marine debris, as they may accidentally hit or travel over them resulting in expensive repairs. Even beachgoers face the risk of getting cut by a loose piece of glass lying around, which can lead to various forms of infections. Swimming in or accidentally drinking polluted water filled with pathogens, can humans contract sore throat, gastroenteritis, meningitis, or encephalitis

Economic Effects Washington D.C. has spent $319,000 a year for skimmer boats. Los Angeles in 1994 paid $4.2 million for beach restoration. T The Japanese fishing industry paid $4.

13 Economic Effects Washington D.C. has spent $319,000 a year for skimmer boats. Los Angeles in 1994 paid $4.2 million for beach restoration. T The Japanese fishing industry paid $4.1 billion to fix ships. New Jersey & North Carolina have contributed between $21 and $72 million for beach debris removal. Fishing markets suffered a loss in Dungeness crab, causing them a loss in profit Plus, the decrease in tourism caused a revenue loss between $728 million and $3.07 billion (Source 1).

recreation waters through microbiological testing, as well as heightened monitoring systems

14 Any Laws Governing this Issue? -BEACH Act: generated to reduce the risk of disease to users of the Nation's coastal recreation waters through microbiological testing, as well as heightened monitoring systems in coastal regions - Clean Water Act: Formed to make states, territories, and authorized tribes develop lists of impaired waters in order clean polluted areas

can harm coastal areas, as well as the measures needed to prevent damaging effects.

15 Any Laws Governing this Issue? (cont d ) - Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act: Allow the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to learn how poor plastic disposal can harm coastal areas, as well as the measures needed to prevent damaging effects. - Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act: Runs departments that can analyze and distinguish the many kinds of marine debris, as well as how it is harming the environment. -Shore Protection Act: the EPA and coastguard have created safer methods of transporting waste from reception facilities and vessels, in order to decrease the total amount of floating debris.

16 Can it be Fixed? How? -Why, yes, yes it can! -Reusing, reducing, and recycling greatly benefit the coastal environment, as each item that we don t put in the trash, becomes one item that can t harm the coastal regions. - Simple Measures: Keeping cigarette butts off the streets, recycling a car s motor oil, cutting the rings of plastic six-pack holders, fixing a car leak when one occurs, and picking up after one s pet. - Fishing: Be very thorough and careful when throwing away lines, nets, and hooks.

17 Can it be Fixed? How? (cont d) Exercising proper house keeping by throwing away trash correctly in its specified location will also decrease the amount of trash seen in the ocean. Making gutters and storm drains free of trash, will ensure nothing unnecessary ends up on the beach or in the ocean. Volunteering at beaches and other coastal areas can speed up the process of cleaning up debris found on land, as seen with beach raking.

19 Bibliography NOAA Marine Debris Program. "Marine Debris Info/101." Marine Debris. N.p., 19 July Web. 25 Nov "Laws, Regulations, Treaties." & More Information on Marine Debris. EPA. United States Environmental Protection Agency, 6 Mar Web. 25 Nov State of California. "The Problem With Marine Debris." CA.gov Public Education Program. California Coastal Mission, Web. 25 Nov < "Marine Debris." NOAA National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration. National Ocean Service, 11 May Web. 25 Nov Coe, James M., and Donald B. Rogers. Marine Debris: Sources, Impacts, and Solutions. New York: Springer, Print.