As one of the most widespread pollution problems facing the world’s ocean and waterways, our waters are filled with marine debris, items that do not belong in it. Marine debris includes any manufactured or processed solid material that is directly, indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally disposed of or abandoned in the marine environment or the Great Lakes. Read more about marine debris here.

Photo Credit: Oregon Sea Grant

A picture of a shark sculpture created using found marine debris and on display in Oregon.

When marine debris is in our waters and on our shores, beaches and public recreation areas are impacted, affecting ecotourism and local economies. The Great Lakes economy relies heavily on tourism and recreation by maintaining healthy coastal resources while keeping the environment clean. Beach-goers and visitors can be impacted by marine debris as well as these items can cause physical bodily harm if found on shorelines or in the water. Human consumption of marine debris is also possible if small particles are accidentally ingested, however potential health risks from different plastics and chemicals are still unknown.

While marine debris is harmful to people, our ecosystems and the economy, it can be especially detrimental to wildlife. Gall and Thompson documented marine debris impacting over 700 species including plankton, invertebrates, fish, sea birds, sea turtles and cetaceans. Ghost gear and abandoned nets can result in entanglement, causing harm or even death to wildlife. Items like plastic bags, balloons and straws can be mistaken as food. As these foreign materials break apart into smaller pieces, they can be mistaken for even smaller species like plankton or zooplankton, which are a vital source of nutrients at the beginning of the food chain. Ingestion of foreign materials is harmful for animals as they can be severely punctured by the materials, or have a false sense of full appetite. Read more about why marine debris is a problem here.

Photo Credit: Rhode Island Sea Grant
Found marine debris, including trash and a Monopoly board, along a beach dune. 

Being aware of how to properly dispose of fishing line and garbage can greatly reduce impacts to marine ecosystems. Beach cleanups are another great way to combat shoreline trash while collectively working together to reduce debris in public areas. Reducing reliability on single-use plastics can also greatly reduce the amount of marine debris entering our waterways and marine ecosystems. Read more about how to help here.

Photo Credit: South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium
A group of young girls outside of an estuary with bags of trash consisting of marine debris found on a beach.