Marine debris, often referred to as marine litter or ocean trash, is a global environmental issue that poses significant threats to marine ecosystems, wildlife, and human societies. Marine debris is a term encompassing a wide array of discarded materials that find their way into oceans, seas, and other water bodies. These materials can vary from plastics and fishing gear to glass, rubber, and metal.
Our over-reliance on single-use plastics has created an environmental crisis. Plastics are produced using fossil fuels, releasing CO2 and contributing to climate change. The solution isnāt just cleaning upāitās stopping plastic pollution at its source. If your bathtub was overflowing, you wouldnāt mop the floor without turning off the tap. The same goes for plasticāwe must turn off the tap on production to make a real difference.
Our planet is drowning in plastic. For every person on Earth, there are 21,000 pieces of trash. Every minute, two truckloads of plastic waste enter the oceanāthereās now more plastic in our oceans than stars in the galaxy.
Florida beach cleanups reveal the culprits: most debris is single-use plastic from food and drink items, like bottle caps, straws, and containers. Even cigarette butts, once the most commonly littered item, are made of plastic and pollute streets, beaches, and waterways.Ā
Plastic was invented during WWII and became widespread in the 1970s. It doesnāt break down for centuries, meaning most plastic ever created still exists on our planet today. As it degrades, it forms tiny particles called microplastics, which are now everywhereāour water, food, and even the air we breathe.
Land-Based Sources
An estimated 80% on marine debris originates from human activity on land. Poor waste management, inadequate recycling systems, and improper disposal of waste play a pivotal role in introducing debris into marine environments. Urban areas near coastlines often generate vast amounts of plastic waste due to consumer culture and unsustainable packaging practices. These plastics, often lightweight and durable, can be easily transported by wind and through stormwater systems into rivers and eventually flow into the oceans.
Another significant land-based source is litter from recreational activities such as beachgoers leaving behind trash, picnicking, or camping near water bodies. Inadequate infrastructure, such as lack of trash bins and public awareness campaigns, contributes to marine debris. Additionally, industrial activities close to coastlines, if not regulated properly, can discharge pollutants like heavy metals, chemicals, and plastics directly into the ocean.
Ocean-Based Sources
While land-based sources contribute significantly to marine debris, an estimated 20% of marine debris comes from ocean-based sources. Fishing activities, both commercial and recreational, are a substantial source of marine debris. Lost or abandoned fishing gear, such as nets, lines, and traps, termed “ghost gear,” continue to trap and kill marine life long after they are discarded. These items can drift across vast distances, ensnaring marine animals and damaging sensitive habitats like coral reefs.
Shipping and maritime transportation also contribute to ocean-based marine debris. Containers lost at sea, as well as accidental spills of cargo like plastics pellets (nurdles) during transport, can directly introduce debris into marine ecosystems. Even though regulations and monitoring have improved, accidents still occur, highlighting the need for continued vigilance and improved waste management practices within the shipping industry.
A Global Issue
Marine debris is not confined to specific regions or countries. It travels across vast ocean currents, connecting distant coasts and ecosystems. Debris originating in one part of the world can eventually wash up on shores thousands of miles away. This interconnectedness underscores the necessity for a collaborative global approach to address the issue.
52% of sea turtles are eating plastic, specifically plastic bags because they look like jellyfish when they are floating in the ocean. When balloons are released, they pop in the atmosphere and land in the ocean, resembling jellyfish as well. They are typically in the ocean more than on land because 71% of our planet is covered in water! In addition, 100% of seabirds are eating plastic.
If animals are eating this plastic and we eat food from the ocean, we are eating it too! Plastic chemicals are known endocrine disruptors (they mess with your hormones) which leads to various effects. These are especially dangerous and impactful for youth in their development.
Other animals like sea lions and dolphins get entangled in fishing nets and lines. Most of the great Pacific Gyre trash is nets and lines from fishing industry.
Marine debris also threatens tourism and real estate economies (the biggest economies in South Florida)! Biscayne Bay brings in an annual revenue of $64 billion.
The plastic pollution crisis is a stark reminder of the environmental consequences of unsustainable human activities. To mitigate and ultimately prevent marine debris, concerted efforts are required at individual, community, industry, and governmental levels. Through collaborative action, awareness-raising, and innovative solutions, we can strive to safeguard our oceans and preserve their invaluable ecosystems for generations to come.
Never Litter
Reduce, Refuse, Reuse, Repair, then Recycle
If you donāt create the waste in the first place, you donāt have to worry where it goes.
Clean it Up
Be an Advocate
VolunteerCleanup.Org engages volunteers to cleanup their neighborhoods, shorelines, and waterways as a way to raise awareness about marine debris and encourage people to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics.
VolunteerCleanup.Org is a project of Miami Dade Coastal Cleanup, Inc, a 501(c)3 non-profit registered with the IRS (EIN 42-1766017)