Introduction to Marine Debris

As we move more into a future filled with consumer products and new technologies, we often become so invested in our new gadgets and products that we rarely stop to consider the effects man-made goods have on the environment. We all know about the devastating effects of global warming on the ozone layer, but few stop and think about what we're doing to our oceans. Below, we have addressed just what is occurring in our oceans and how, if we work together, we can reduce our deleterious impact on the world and preserve our one and only planet Earth.

Graphic Solution

Solutions

Marine Debris is a major issue in the world’s oceans today. The non-biodegradable manmade materials that make up marine debris and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (along with others) have a largely detrimental effect on the marine environment and on the animals that live there. We need to put an end to this excessive dumping of garbage into our coastal and offshore waters. Many people are unaware of the severity and vast scale of marine debris, or the effects it has on the ecosystem. It is our job to try to the best of our abilities to fix and reverse the negative results of this on the environment. The only solution to marine debris is to raise awareness on the matter. We need to educate the public on marine debris and how every little bit of action can help. Get out the word through public service announcements, posters, and flyers. Stop making the world’s oceans a soup of non-biodegradable plastics that only serve to hurt. Buy and use biodegradable products, which are made from corn-based plastic to replace petroleum, that is created out of Ingeo plastic pellets. Although these products are biodegradable, they still need to be sent to a commercial composting plant. Another brand of biodegradable plastic is called Mirel and it decomposes in soil, compost, or water. Most importantly, recycle! If everyone were to recycle every plastic bag and water bottle they used each day, the shredded plastic mix soup would most likely be half the size at least. The only chance there is that this problem may eventually be brought to an end is to make marine debris as publically aware as possible. We need to educate the people so that they can understand what effects their actions have on nature. And, above all, even more important to emphasize than awareness, is recycling. Recycle anything that can be recycled, and reuse when necessary. This will ultimately minimize debris pollution flying and falling into the ocean. Awareness, intelligence, and recycling will all help to one day eradicate the blob that is called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Causes Graphics

"The Majestic Plastic Bag: A Mockumentary"
Narrated by: Academy-award winner Jeremy Irons
The following video addresses the global issue: marine debris and the great Pacific garbage patch

Causes:

Land based causes: Most of marine debris sources are land-based.  Beach and shore pollution are primary factors of marine debris.  Any pollution accumulated on land can be swept out to sea and lost in the ocean.  Even pollution off the shore can be transferred to the ocean.  Litter in streets can be swept into storm drains by rain.  The storm drains can then transfer the debris to another water source or directly to the ocean.  Lastly, natural disasters such as tsunamis, floods, hurricanes, and mudslides can inflict serious damage.  The immense amounts of debris caused by these natural events can be deposited into the ocean.

Ocean-based causes: The other primary sources of marine debris are ocean-based.  Fishing gear and nets from commercial fishing vessels as well as recreational boats can be lost at sea.  These nets continue to “fish” once in the ocean, unintentionally trapping and killing marine animals.  Offshore drills and platforms may also lose gear or equipment to the sea.  Some of these materials are plastic drill pipe thread protectors, storage drums, and hard hats.  Lastly, debris from huge commercial vessels can pose a serious threat.  Cargo can be dumped into the ocean because of rough seas.  This can cause massive amounts of pollution to enter the water.

Whether land or ocean based, the main type of marine debris is plastic.  Research has estimated that 60%-80% of all marine debris is made up of plastics.  Plastic takes almost forever to decompose, so it remains in the oceans, breaking up into smaller and smaller pieces.  Along with plastics, marine debris can also be composed of metal, glass, and rubber.  The following is a list of some common forms of marine debris:

·      Domestic products: plastic bags, Styrofoam cups, plastic bottles, balloons

·      Industrial products: plastic sheeting, resin pellets, hard hats

·      Fishing products: nets, traps, lines

·      Abandoned and derelict vessels

Marine Debris

What is marine debris? : According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, marine debris is “any persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed and directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment or the Great Lakes.”  Marine debris is composed of a few main sources: plastics, glass, metal, rubber, and derelict fishing gear.  One of the most caustic of these sources is plastic.  Plastics are used constantly in everyday life and are some of the most abundant debris in the water environment.  Debris can range from household items like straws and bottle caps to industrial size plastic sheeting.  Unfortunately, the plastic does not decompose.  It just breaks into smaller and smaller pieces as it moves through the water. 

Impacts: One of the worst results of marine debris is the creation of “garbage patches” in the world’s oceans.  Garbage patches are huge concentrations of marine debris spread over a specific area in the oceans.  The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is located in the central North Pacific Ocean and is estimated to be as large as the state of Texas.  It is mainly composed of bits of plastic.  Other garbage patches have been discovered around the world raising the need for some form of solution.

Animal impact: Marine debris is lethal to the animals living around it.  Many animals can become entangled by abandoned fishing nets or lines.  This occurrence, called ghost fishing, traps, injures and even kills both fish and marine mammals.  Animals may also mistake marine debris for food.  Birds, marine mammals, and sea turtles are known to ingest the pollution causing internal damage, illness, or death.

Environmental impact:  Marine debris poses serious harm to the marine environment in general.  It ruins the purity and cleanliness of the oceans which humans depend on for so many reasons.  It can destroy marine habitats such as coral reefs which offer beauty and habitats for countless marine organisms.  If the marine environment is damaged, the human race will also suffer as a result.

Aesthetic impact: Marine debris is detrimental to the irreplaceable beauty of the world’s oceans.  Beach pollution is not appealing and discourages beachgoers and tourists who enjoy the shore. 

Popular tourist destinations could become garbage dumps, resulting in an economic loss and a serious hit to nature’s beauty.

Marine debris has many detrimental effects to the marine environment. It is pivotal that humans discover a solution to save the world’s oceans from marine debris.  So far, the average human can help limit marine debris by being conscience of litter, recycling everything that can be recycled, and participating in local beach cleanups.  Every effort counts, but something drastic must be done to ensure cleaner oceans.

Original Research:

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, marine debris is “any persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed and directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment or the Great Lakes.”  Marine debris is composed of a few main sources: plastics, glass, metal, rubber, and derelict fishing gear.  One if the most caustic of these sources is plastic.  Plastics are used constantly in everyday life and are some of the most abundant debris in the water environment.  Debris can range from household items like straws and bottle caps to industrial size plastic sheeting.  Unfortunately, the plastic does not decompose.  It just breaks into smaller and smaller pieces as it moves through the water. This is causing problems for fish who mistake the plastic for food.

One of the worst results of marine debris is the creation of “garbage patches” in the world’s oceans.  Garbage patches are huge concentrations of marine debris spread over a specific area in the oceans.  The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is located in the central North Pacific Ocean and is estimated to be as large as the state of Texas.  It is mainly composed of bits of plastic.  Other garbage patches have been discovered around the world raising the need for some form of solution.

Marine debris has many detrimental effects to the marine environment.  It can damage habitats, be ingested by animals, and provide risks to human health all over the globe.  It is pivotal that humans discover a solution to save the world’s oceans from marine debris.  So far, the average human can help limit marine debris by being conscience of litter, recycling everything that can be recycled, and participating in local beach cleanups.  Every effort counts, but something drastic must be done to ensure cleaner oceans.

APA Works Cited


Barnett, R. (2008). www.usatoday.com. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/manufacturing/2008- 12-25-biodegradable-plastic_N.htm

Environmental Protection Agency. (2011, September 29). Marine debris. Retrieved from          http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/marinedebris/index.cfm

J.Rank. (2011). Thermal pollution. Retrieved from http://www.pollutionissues.com/Te- 

Un/Thermal-Pollution.html

Noaa marine debris program. (2012, March 5). Retrieved from http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/

Sea web. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.seaweb.org/resources/briefings/MarineDebris.php

Tnau agritech portal. (2010). Retrieved from http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/environment/envi_pollution_intro - thermal.html

(2010). The majestic plastic bag: A mockumentary. (2010). [Web Video]. Retrieved from          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLgh9h2ePYw