The ocean covers 71 percent of our planet and provides 99 percent of our living space on earth. It controls our climate, soaks up half of the carbon dioxide we create by burning fossil fuels, provides much of the water we drink and the oxygen we breathe, is a huge source of food, and is the driving force behind many economies. And yet, we are stifling its power to help us by filling it with trash and other marine debris.
What is Marine Debris?
Marine debris is any man-made material on our beaches and in the ocean, otherwise known as trash. Most commonly it consists of plastic bags and bottles, aluminum cans, cigarette butts, bottle caps, medical waste, and toxic liquids. During the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup in September 2008, 6.8 million pounds of debris were collected around the world. That included 3.2 million cigarette butts, 1.4 million plastic bags and 26,500 tires.
Where does it come from?
80% of the debris on our beaches and in the ocean comes from the land. Although we are talking about trash that ends up in the ocean, it often starts many miles inland in lakes, streams, rivers, and estuaries. But in the end, it finds its way to the sea. Trash dropped by human hands can be blown by the wind, carried by rivers and streams, or washed into city storm drains and out into the ocean and coastal waters. Marine debris also comes from landfills, poorly maintained trashcans, and sewer overflows. And with the increase in plastic packaging in everyday life, the debris is increasingly made up of non-biodegradable materials.
The remaining 20% comes from ocean sources. Boats, ships and oil rigs litter the ocean with chemicals, trash, fishing nets and lines, and other materials hazardous to sea life.
What impact does it have on the environment?
There are many different ways that marine debris has a negative impact on the world around us.
Marine debris kills thousands of marine animals each year. Trash can block their digestive systems, poison them, cause them to choke or starve themselves because the debris makes them feel full. Commonly, turtles eat plastic bags mistaking them for jellyfish, and seabirds eat plastic pellets mistaking them for fish eggs. Here are some interesting facts:
- Recently a dead sperm whale was found with 440 pounds of fishing equipment in its stomach.
- In a study in Holland, 98 percent of fulmar seabirds found dead on beaches had plastic in their stomachs.
- 12 dolphins found stranded in Florida had fishing equipment in the mouths, throats or stomachs.
Other animals become tangled in plastic six-pack holders, discarded fishing nets, fishing lines, and other debris causing them to drown. Beyond being an environmental disaster in itself, this loss of marine wildlife also damages local economies.
Litter in the ocean and on the beach can also be harmful to humans. Toxic liquids, leaking chemical drums, medical syringes, broken glass, motor-oil bottles and batteries are just some of the potentially harmful trash found in the ocean every year. These toxic materials can harm us directly while swimming or spending time on the beach, or indirectly by getting into the seafood supply which we then consume. In California, the government often issues a rain advisory when it rains because the rainwater carries pollution to the beach causing ocean bacteria levels to exceed State standards. They usually recommend that swimmers and surfers stay out of the water for three days after rain.
Marine debris also puts additional stress on an already struggling ocean, lessening its ability to react to climate change and global warming, and makes our beaches look dirty, discouraging tourism and damaging local economies. “Marine debris is more than a blemish on Nature, it is a potential threat to our food supply, to tourism and economic activity, to marine wildlife and ecosystems, and to our personal health” (A Rising Tide of Ocean Debris and What We Can Do About It, Ocean Conservancy International Coastal Clean Up Report, 2009).
What can we do about it?
The good news is that there are many simple steps we can all take to help reduce the amount of debris in the ocean. According to the United Nations Environment Program, “Marine litter is one of the most pervasive and solvable pollution problems plaguing the world’s ocean and waterways.”
So here are some things that we all can, and should, be doing to lessen our negative impact on the ocean and its delicate ecosystems:
- Dispose of trash properly.
- Make sure your trashcans are in good repair.
- Reduce, reuse and recycle.
- Take part in volunteer coastal cleanups.
- Pick up three pieces of trash every time you are on the beach or by a river, stream or waterway.
- Pick up animal waste.
- Cut the rings of plastic six-pack holders.
- Dispose of oil, paint, and other harmful liquids responsibly.
- Educate others.
And remember, “Marine debris doesn’t fall from the sky, it falls from human
hands—and human hands have the power to stop it.” (A Rising Tide of Ocean Debris and What We Can Do About It, Ocean Conservancy International Coastal Clean Up Report, 2009).
Time to Talk Trash 
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