PHILLLP MILLER REZK PHILLLP MILLER REZK

What Is

Marine Debris?

The National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration defines

marine debris as any man­made

object discarded, disposed of or

abandoned that enters the coastal

or marine environment. It may

enter directly from a ship, or indirectly when washed out to sea via

rivers, streams and storm drains. In

the last four decades, the world’s

dependence upon natural materials

has been largely replaced with synthetics. When these durable and

highly buoyant items – such as fishing line, nets, gear, cigarette filters,

food wrappers, beverage bottles,

cans, and grocery and trash bags –

enter the ocean environment they

can travel thousands of miles on

ocean currents, posing a danger to

ocean ecosystems and wildlife.

Consequently, marine debris has

become one of the most pervasive

pollution problems facing the

world’s oceans and waterways.

Where Does It

Come From?

The types of marine debris are

incredibly varied, but it all shares a

common origin – people. In fact,

people’s mishandling of waste

materials and a host of other items

constitutes the bulk of the marine

debris problem. Most researchers

traditionally classify marine debris

as coming from land­ or ocean/

waterway­based sources.

Most land­based marine debris

reaches the ocean when people

carelessly discard trash while on land.

Debris is also blown into the water

or carried by creeks, rivers, storm

drains and sewers into the ocean.

People also generate debris while

at sea. Like land­based debris, the

majority of ocean/waterway­based

debris reaches the ocean through

people’s failure to properly dispose

of or stow their trash while

onboard their boats and vessels.

Fishermen can contribute to the

debris problem when they fail to

retrieve fishing gear or improperly

dispose of fishing­related trash.

Abandoned fishing line, gear, nets

and other litter, whether discarded

on land or at sea, can become

debris with damaging and deadly

effects.

Impacts of

Marine Debris

Marine debris poses threats to

fishermen, the species they catch,

and important fish habitat and

breeding grounds.

Discarded or abandoned fishing

equipment and other forms of

debris can entangle, maim and

cause many wildlife species to

drown. It is difficult to estimate

the total number of debris­related

deaths and injuries to wildlife; however, entanglement and ingestion

incidents have been reported for at

least 267 animal species, including

43 percent of the world’s marine

mammals, 44 percent of the world’s

seabird species and all but one of

the world’s sea turtle species.1

Abandoned nets, plastic tarps,

fishing gear and other debris can

smother and crush sensitive coral

reef and seagrass bed ecosystems,

many of which are essential fish

habitat.

Fishing line, nets, rope and other

trash can also wrap around boat

propellers and clog seawater

intakes, causing costly engine

damage and becoming a safety

hazard.

1 The Ocean Conservancy, “Solid Waste and Debris,” Good Mate Recreational Boating and Marina Manual (2001): 35

N A T I O N A L O C E A N I C A N D A T M O S P H E R I C A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
Working Toward Solutions
 

Unfortunately, curbing the debris

problem requires more than just

removing existing debris. Prevention

– changing the behavior that causes

marine debris to enter the environment – is the only way to truly manage the marine debris pollution issue.

Fishermen who fish from boats,

marinas and docks must also observe

Annex V of the International

Convention for the Prevention of

Pollution from Ships (MARPOL).

MARPOL is an international treaty

that prohibits the disposal of

plastics anywhere in the ocean

and restricts the disposal of most

other types of solid waste. For more

information on MARPOL, please

see the NOAA resources guide at

www.marinedebris.noaa.gov.

As part of this effort, monofilament

manufacturer Pure Fishing and its

subsidiary, Berkley, have established

several monofilament recycling programs in the United States. These

programs encourage fishermen to

discard used fishing line in specially

marked containers, which are

returned to the manufacturers for

recycling. For more information

about these programs, visit

www.berkley­fishing.com/about_

conservation.php#brp and

www.floridaconservation.org/

mrrp/index.asp.

What You Can Do

Individual action

can help to control

marine debris.

FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

People who enjoy fishing and its

related activities can help reduce

the amount of debris that enters

the oceans and other waterways

by following these guidelines:

•	 Bring ALL of your trash back to

shore for proper disposal in trash

cans or recycling bins, including

all pieces of fishing line and

other fishing gear.

•	 Properly stow and secure waste

materials on your boat so that it

won’t be blown or washed overboard.

•	 Collect pieces of fishing line and

other trash that you see in or

near the water and dispose of it

properly.

•	 Learn more about Annex V of

MARPOL and the regulations we

need to follow. Remember that it

is illegal to dispose of any plastic

in all navigable waters of the

United States and anywhere at sea.

•	 Encourage your tackle shops,

docks, marinas, fishing piers and

boat ramps to provide adequate

trash cans and recycling bins for

used line and other trash.

•	 Support environmentally responsible marinas.

•	 Serve as an example to others.

Get involved in cleanups in your

area and encourage others to

help keep the oceans free of

debris.

www.marinedebris.noaa.gov