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Protect public health and the marine and coastal environment by increasing public awareness of the impacts of marine debris and by working creatively to eliminate it from our beaches and waters.

Often called beach litter, marine debris is a major problem on beaches and in coastal waters, estuaries, and oceans. Close to 80% of debris is washed, blown, or dumped from shore, while 20% is from recreational boats, ships, fishing vessels, and ocean platforms. Most marine debris is man-made and slow to degrade, such as cigarette butts, soda cans, plastic bags, and fishing gear. Studies have shown that marine debris threatens over 265 different species of marine and coastal wildlife through entanglement, smothering, and interference with digestive systems. Ghost fishing entrapment of fish and marine mammals by lost or abandoned nets, pots, and gear is reducing fish and wildlife populations. In addition, certain types of marine debris, such as broken glass and medical waste wash-ups, can pose a serious threat to public health, causing beach closures and swimming advisories and robbing coastal communities of significant tourism dollars. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spends $ 9.4 million annually to remove drifting and floatable debris from the New York/ New Jersey Harbor alone.

Ongoing Concerns

• Implementation of effective marine debris control measures is currently hampered by a lack of consistent monitoring and identification of sources of debris.
• Implementation and enforcement of local anti-litter regulations and management of debris entering and exiting sewer systems are inadequate to effectively address the marine debris problem.
• Marine debris can be the result of small-scale pollution by individuals who consider their discharges or littering to be of negligible impact compared with large-scale polluters. However, the cumulative impact of continuous, small-scale pollution can be dramatic.
• Plastic makes up about 60% of the debris found on beaches. The increase in the use of various kinds of plastic as durable, lightweight packaging has heightened the need for proper management and disposal.

Recommendations

• Reestablish an interagency marine debris working group to coordinate development and implementation of monitoring, source identification, control, and education programs to address and find creative solutions to the marine debris issue.
• Improve controls on potential sources of marine debris, including working with communities to implement and enforce anti-litter laws, improve floatable controls for local sewer systems, and employ statistical marine debris monitoring protocols.
• Accelerate cooperative efforts with industry, with tribal, state, and local governments, and with environmental and fishing groups to find creative ways to prevent and clean up marine debris and to increase public awareness of its impacts.
• Support and encourage research efforts to pursue new packaging technology, and increase recycling opportunities, particularly for plastics.

For more information

http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/debris/
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/nmc/seapart.htm
http://www.yoto98.noaa.gov/books/debris/debris1.htm