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Talking Trash The Problem With Marine Debris Marine Debris: What is it? Any unnatural items that makes it way into our ocean or marine environment Directly (i.e. dumping) Indirectly (i.e. street litter washing out to sea 30-40% of debris originates from ships at sea Estimated that 5 million items of marine litter are thrown overboard or lost from ships everyday Over 46,000 pieces of plastic litter are believed to be floating on every square mile of ocean The Movement of Marine Debris Problems with Marine Debris Wildlife Entanglement Entanglement/Injury Ingestion/Starvation Both can lead to death Affects seals, whales, turtles, fish, seabirds Destruction of Marine Habitat Breakage and smothering of coral reefs Divers can remove nets… but the reef is already damaged… Transportation of NonIndigenous Species Diadumene lineata: an invasive intertidal anemone Navigational Hazards that may cause Vessel Damage Large accumulations of derelict fishing gear can: Damage a vessel Entangle the propellor Result in a navigational hazard Result in a safety risk for those onboard Trawler tangles with derelict net propellor snare Marine Debris Can be Toxic Persistent organic pollutants (POPs): a class of chemicals that can be released by ordinary garbage Extremely toxic, even at low concentrations Accumulate in the fatty tissues of marine mammals POPs have been shown to disrupt hormones that could result in cancer and birth defects What’s being done? NOAA's Marine Debris Program MISSION A national effort to prevent, identify, remove, reduce marine debris Also protect and conserve our nation’s natural resources and coastal waterways from the impact of marine debris Promotes: research, monitoring, outreach, and reduction outcomes NOAA’s marine debris program 2006: first ever comprehensive project to survey and remove marine debris in the main Hawaiian Islands. Aerial surveys of all main islands ID’ed over 700 debris sites and approx. 129 tons of debris Waiohinu-ka Lae Coastline, Big Island Kanapou Bay, Kaho’olawe 42 tons in 9 miles 5 tons in ¼ mile How you can help Get involved in local clean-ups Don’t litter; find a trash can Leave your favorite places cleaner than when you got there; bring a trash bag with you when you go to the beach Reduce the amount of waste you produce and recycle when you can Learn about the issue and help spread the word! For more info visit: http://marinedebris.noaa.gov
