Perhaps you've seen enough garbage on the beach closest to where you live, or at your family's favorite vacation destination. It is disturbing to think that we have littered such beautiful places, but it is even more disturbing to think about the birds, fish, and mammals who become entangled in old fishing net, trapped and unable to move or find food. Plastics are particularly hazardous to marine life because they do not biodegrade, and they float on the surface where many other food sources are found. Sea turtles have been known to swallow plastic bags, mistaking them for jellyfish, and then starve. Ultimately, we are responsible for it all.
Marine debris is a worldwide problem.
The garbage that ends up in the marine environment comes from various sources , and due to prevailing winds and ocean currents, it can end up very far away from its original source. Beachgoers who leave their trash behind are also part of the problem. Ocean sources of marine debris include commercial fishing, recreational fishing and boating, cargo vessels, cruise ships, and offshore petroleum rigs, to name a few. There are many environmental organizations that have elevated the problem of marine debris in the public's collective conscience. During this annual event, held on the third Saturday in September, people all over the world join together and clean the shores of our oceans.