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Plastic debris on the shoreline of Lake Erie (Photo: NOAA).
Unfortunately, our ocean faces many threats, one of which is marine debris. Although marine debris can include any man-made and solid object, plastic items are the most prevalent type of debris. The top ten most common items found during the 2016 International Coastal Cleanup, nine were plastic items.
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A researcher holds up balloon debris and entangled baby albatross on Kure Atoll, part of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (Photo: Andy Sullivanhaskins / Hawaii Department of Lands and Natural Resources).
The summer is a celebratory time when people gather for graduations, weddings, and to enjoy time at the beach. Balloons are often used during these special occasions as decorations and gifts, and are sometimes intentionally released into the air. Unfortunately, once they go up, they must also come down; balloons that are released into the air don’t just go away, they make their way back down, or rise until they pop and fall back to Earth where they can create a lot of problems.
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Check out the California Ocean Litter Prevention Strategy!
The NOAA Marine Debris Program and California Ocean Protection Council are pleased to announce the 2018 California Ocean Litter Prevention Strategy: Addressing Marine Debris from Source to Sea. The Strategy identifies a broad range of actions aimed at preventing and reducing marine debris in California, and is the result of a wide range of input from government partners, non-governmental organizations, industry, and academics working to address the issue.
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The marine debris team removes a derelict fishing net from the shorelines of the Monument (Photo: NOAA).
Beaches are not only a great place to have fun in the sun, but provide important habitat. Although Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is located far from human populations, large amounts of marine debris and derelict fishing gear litter its beaches every year, impacting important habitat and wildlife. Through a multi-agency effort, hundreds of tons of debris have been removed from the Monument, creating a cleaner environment for the species that live there.
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Damage to Springmaid Pier, just outside Myrtle Beach, SC, due to Hurricane Matthew (Photo: Andy Stein, WeatherNation, Denver, CO).
Another hurricane season is upon us and with that, it’s time to think about how best to prepare for potential storms. Unfortunately, the wind, rains, and storm surge that can come with hurricanes can also result in a substantial influx of marine debris. Keep this point in mind when prepping your home for an upcoming storm.
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