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Marine Debris Oceanic Trash Buildup A presentation by: Marlo Berberian Sources of Impact • Where it comes from: 80% land based sources, 90% plastic. Un-recycled plastics, glasses, metals, and rubbers. In addition to: Styrofoam, nets, lines, abandoned fishing equipment, rundown ships and vessels. Sources of Impact Cont. • How does it accumulate to specific areas? Answer: oceanic currents and atmospheric winds • Current strength is the largest factor. North Pacific Subtropical Gyre is the culprit of “Trash Island.” Other currents move trash through the ocean and are classified on either a mesoscale (medium) or micro-scale (small). • North Pacific “Trash Island” Sources of Impact Cont. Sources of Impact Cont. • What exactly is being impacted? • 214,500 to 763,000 seabirds are killed each year, in addition up to one hundred thousand marine mammals and possibly more die each year. These species can die from entanglement or disease associated with pollution. Coral Reefs, plankton, ect. Food chain. Why is this Happening? • Individuals who intentionally or accidentally leave trash on a beach or pier • People who have thrown their trash into a storm drain or gutter • Construction and demolition sites • Corporations illegally managing waste • Natural disasters Why is This Happening? Cont. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoa16mtnqJ0 Abiotic Factors • Doesn’t alter salinity, but can alter temp and limit light. • Depending on the size of debris covering an area, some parts of the ocean may be without light and lower temps. • Harmful toxins released from the trash. Such as BPA, nonylphenol (NP) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) Biotic Factors • Direct impacts: ingestion, entanglement, and ecosystem alteration. • Marine animals and seabirds think marine debris is food. EPA says sea turtles mistake plastic bags for jelly fish, and seabirds mistake plastic pellets as fish eggs. The other type of ingestion is accidental. Biotic Factors Cont. • Hurts digestion process, nutrients cannot dissolve properly. • Internal injuries and infections increase death and lead to reproductive issues. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LHrxwQoEE Biotic Factors Cont. • Suffocation and breaking of coral reefs due to accumulation of trash. • All reef dwelling corals have a symboitoc relationship with algae. No access to light and slower production of food. Loss of habitats and food sources for many organisms. Sea slugs, nudibranchs, oysters, clams, crabs, shrimp, sea worms, sea stars, ect. Biotic Factors Cont. Biotic Factors Cont. • Indirect impacts • When disposing of marine debris cannot use mechanical devices as this hurts birds, turtles, and adds to beach erosion. • Moving of invasive species, trash moves with ocean currents, bringing animals to different locations. • Estimated to have doubled several species in the subtropics Biotic Factors Cont. • Less healthy fish available for consumption, invasive species eat food supply. • Ex: after Japanese Tsunami invasion of the European Blue mussel, Asian Brown Seaweed and Asian Shore Crab all invaded and jeopardized food supply for fish. Laws Governing this Issue • Europeans have designed the “Marine and Coastal Access Act” which consists of a group of EU member states working together to ensure better systems for maintaining and protecting marine life • United States passed the Ocean Dumping Act, which gives the EPA the power to regulate all marine dumping of hazardous materials. Act also prohibits the disposal of plastic. Laws Governing this Issue Laws Governing This Issue Can it be Fixed? • Volunteer groups at oceans or rivers. • Best thing to do is to raise awareness and to recycle. 90% of the material is plastic. • Not only will it help the environment, but will help sustain jobs at recycling plants. • Laws? Can it be Fixed? • Local campaigns raising awareness Bibliography • Marine Debris Prevention. United State Environmental Protection Agency, 23 Nov. 2012. Web. 24 Nov. 2012. <http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/marinedebris/index.cfm>. • Morton, Thomas. "Toxic: Garbage Island." CNN. Cable News Network, 17 Feb. 2010. Web. 24 Nov. 2012. <http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/02/16/vbs.toxic.garbage.isl and/index.html>. • NOAA Marine Debris Program. U.S. Department of Commerce, 24 Sept. 2012. Web. 24 Nov. 2012. <http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/welcome.html>. • "The Problem With Marine Debris." Public Education Program. California Coastal Commission, 2012. Web. 24 Nov. 2012. <http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/marinedebris.html>. • "Stopping the Rising Tide of Marine Debris Pollution | Californians Against Waste." • Californians Against Waste. N.p., 30 Aug. 2010. Web. 24 Nov. 2012. <http://www.cawrecycles.org/issues/marine_debris>.