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What Is 

Marine Debris?

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 

ADMINISTRATION

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration defines marine debris 

as any persistent solid material that 

is manufactured or processed and 

directly or indirectly, intentionally 

or unintentionally, disposed of or 

abandoned into the marine environment 

or the Great Lakes. Since the 1960s, 

the world’s dependence upon natural 

materials has been largely replaced 

with durable, highly buoyant synthetic 

items. Once they enter the ocean 

environment these products, such 

as cigarette filters, food wrappers, 

beverage bottles and cans, grocery 

and trash bags, and fishing line, nets 

and gear, can travel for hundreds 

of thousands of miles on ocean 

currents, posing a threat to ocean 

ecosystems and wildlife along the 

way. Consequently, marine debris has 

become one of the most widespread 

pollution problems facing the world’s 

oceans and waterways.

Where Does It 

Come From?

While the types of debris are as diverse 

as the products found around the 

world, it all shares a common origin 

– people. Since trash can travel long 

distances before settling on shorelines 

or the ocean floor, determining exactly 

how debris reaches the ocean can be 

difficult. In an effort to understand the 

activities that cause debris, researchers 

traditionally classify marine debris 

as coming from land- or ocean/

waterway-based sources.

Land-based sources

People’s mishandling of waste materials 

and a host of other items while on 

land constitutes a good portion of the 

marine debris we see on shorelines. 

Debris is also blown into the water or 

carried by creeks, rivers, storm drains, 

and sewers into the ocean.

Sources of land-based debris include:

• Inappropriate disposal of trash from 

many land-based activities, including 

picnicking, beachgoing, fishing, and 

waterside sporting events;

• Debris items from lawns, parking 

lots, streets, and storm drains being 

blown, swept or washed out to 

sea;

• Inappropriate handling of packaging 

materials;

• Inadvertent or intentional release 

of waste from shore-based solid 

waste disposal and waste processing 

facilities; and

• Sewage overflows.

Ocean/waterway-based sources

People also generate debris while at 

sea. Like land-based debris, much 

of the ocean/waterway-based debris 

reaches the ocean through people’s 

failure to properly dispose of or stow 

their trash while onboard their boats 

and vessels. Ocean-based debris also 

includes derelict (lost or abandoned) 

fishing gear. Natural disasters, such 

as hurricanes and storms, can also 

deposit debris into the ocean.

Sources of ocean/waterway-based 

debris include:

• Abandoning or losing fishing gear, 

including line, nets, ropes, bait 

boxes, fish tags, and trawl floats;

• Intentional or inadvertent discharge 

of trash, galley waste and boating 

materials, including oil lube bottles, 

engine cleaning and maintenance 

products; and

• Inappropriate handling of undersea 

exploration and oil and gas extraction 

items, including hard hats, sheeting 

and tarps, computer equipment and 

survey materials.

marine debris has become one of the most 

pervasive pollution problems facing the world’s 

oceans and waterways. NOAA PIFSC
Impacts of Marine Debris

In addition to being unsightly, marine 

debris poses significant threats to ocean 

ecosystems, wildlife, and human health 

and safety. 

Effects on ocean ecosystems

• Abandoned nets, plastic tarps, 

fishing gear and other debris can 

smother and crush sensitive coral 

reef and seagrass bed ecosystems 

and their benthic (bottom-dwelling) 

species.

Effects on marine wildlife

• Fishing line, nets, rope and grocery 

and trash bags can entangle, maim, 

and even drown many wildlife 

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 

starvation and possibly even death.

What You Can Do

www.MarineDebris.noaa.gov

Effects on people

• Medical and personal hygiene debris 

can enter waterways when sewer 

systems fail or overflow. These 

items often contain harmful bacteria 

and pathogens.

• Syringes, broken glass and 

other hazardous items pose 

obvious dangers to bare-footed 

beachgoers.

• Grocery and trash bags, fishing 

line, nets, rope, and other debris 

can wrap around boat propellers 

and clog seawater intakes, causing 

costly damage and becoming a 

safety hazard. 

• Reduce, reuse, recycle. Choose 

reusable items and use fewer 

disposable ones (e.g., use fewer 

disposable bags when shopping, or 

bring your own reusable bags).

• Retain all pieces of fishing line, 

net, or other litter for proper 

disposal in trash containers.

• Keep streets, sidewalks, parking 

lots, and storm drains free of trash 

– remember our land and ocean are 

connected.

• Stow all trash on your boat for 

proper disposal on land. At the 

beach, park or playground, dispose 

of all trash in the proper receptacles 

or take your trash home with you. 

Pick up any debris you see while 

out.

• Serve as an example to others. Get 

involved in cleanups in your area 

and encourage others to help keep 

the beaches and oceans clean.

• Learn about the problem of marine 

debris and its impacts then tell your 

friends and family!

While an important first step, physically 

removing existing debris only provides 

temporary relief to the problem. The 

only way to truly manage the marine 

debris pollution issue is through 

prevention – changing the behaviors 

that cause marine debris to enter the 

environment. Consequently, multiple 

organizations and local, state, and 

Working Toward Solutions

federal agencies are collaborating on 

outreach projects designed to bring 

awareness to and alleviate the problem 

of marine debris. Several efforts are 

focusing on monitoring the behaviors 

and activities that result in marine 

debris and developing prevention 

strategies that educate people on 

marine debris issues, their role in the 

problem and how to prevent it. 

For more information on programs 

that are working to foster change, visit 

www.MarineDebris.noaa.gov.

Here are some steps that you can take to 

help solve the marine debris problem:

B. Billand

NOAA PMNM

NOAA RC