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Surfrider volunteers pick up an average of 6,500 butts at every two-hour cleanup event (Photo: Surfrider San Francisco).
Spring is here! As the temperatures increase and weather improves, many of us are drawn to the outdoors. But what if your trip to the beach could be more than just an enjoyable day? What if you could do scientific research at the same time as a citizen scientist? Opportunities for the public most often come in the form of data collection, but they can also include providing input on questions to investigate, participating in study design, or interpreting and sharing results. Several projects funded through the NOAA Marine Debris Program have tapped into this community resource as well, and committed stewards around the country have contributed invaluable data to monitoring and research projects that support our vision of a sea free of debris.
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The Pearl River log jam traps thousands of pounds of debris (Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).
The Gulf of Mexico’s coastal habitats are a treasure trove of biological diversity and unique ecosystems. They’re also a vital resource for coastal economies, industries, and communities, and are impacted by human activity in many ways. One ongoing challenge in the Gulf of Mexico region is the problem of marine debris. From local litter and abandoned fishing gear, to restaurant waste and debris dams, marine debris in the Gulf States is a complex issue. Fortunately, our partners in the region are up for the challenge and are leading efforts to prevent and remove debris across the Gulf.
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The cost of ghost fishing - numerous blue crabs perished in an abandoned crab trap (Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).
Most of us in coastal communities know the term “ghost fishing” and why it is bad, but to get a handle on the problem in the Texas Mid-Coast area, local scientists are diving deeper into the issue by looking for the root causes of the problem. The Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program, with funding from a NOAA Marine Debris Program removal grant, is expanding efforts to remove derelict traps and gather standardized data that can be used to better assess the ecological and economic impacts and help identify the causes of trap abandonment.
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A removal team hikes down to Sandy Point on Santa Rosa Island with frame packs for hauling debris off the remote beach (Photo: Russ Bradley).
There’s an old saying that good things come in threes. This holds true for many things, including the fight against marine debris. Strategies to address this issue can be divided into three approaches: 1) reduce waste right at the source, 2) collect trash before it gets into the water, and 3) clean up trash from our shorelines. In California, innovative ways to tackle the issue of waste in our waterways fall within each of these categories, helping to make dreams of cleaner beaches a reality.
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Trash from bins at Santa Margarita Elementary during a student-led waste audit (Photo: One Cool Earth).
Students, teachers, and school administrators all have their own parts to play in the vision of One Cool Earth’s Earth Genius marine debris education program in San Luis Obispo, California. This unique educational program partners with schools to incorporate marine debris education, practices, and principles throughout public school systems, from classrooms and cafeterias to school facilities and administration.
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A shoreline survey team on Chincoteague Island, Virginia, records a plastic lid on their transect survey datasheet (Photo: NOAA).
One of the best things about citizen science is the opportunity to get involved with your local community while making a difference on a broad scale. There are so many impactful projects you can take part in as a citizen scientist, whether you are looking for a long-term commitment to keep a local shoreline clean or want to make a positive impact when doing things you love. Check out these ways to get started.
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Sailing vessel “Running Free” was abandoned and washed ashore at the Rachel Carson Reserve three times before it was removed through a cleanup project (Photo: North Carolina Coastal Reserve).
The May webinar in our Salvaging Solutions to Abandoned and Derelict Vessels series is coming up! This month's webinar, Funding the Issue, will focus on sources of funding to address abandoned and derelict vessels. Join us at 3 pm ET on Wednesday, May 26, 2021.
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