history of marine debris

History of Marine Debris

Defining Marine Debris

Human-made items that are discarded both intentionally and unintentionally and eventually enter ocean

Includes both biodegradable items (paper, wood, food, or metal) and non-biodegradable items (glass, plastic)

80% of marine debris are now plastic items

Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies

Marine Debris History

Marine debris has been in existence since humans started using and fabricating tools

Early on, most marine debris items were biodegradable Natural leather or cotton clothing Hemp, linen, and tree-fiber ropes, nets, and fishing

lines Wooden and metal tools Glass and metal containers

Around 1940s-1950s non-biodegradable synthetic waste began to wash ashore


Global Marine Debris

The Ocean Conservancy has collected International Coastal Cleanup data for the past 27 years

Top Ten Items found from 1985-2010Rank Debris Item Number of

Debris ItemsPercentage of

Total Debris Items

1 Cigarettes/ Filters 52,907,756 32%

2 Food Wrappers/ Containers 14,766,533 9%

3 Caps, Lids 13,585,425 8%

4 Cups, Plates, Forks, Knives, Spoons

10,112,038 6%

5 Beverage Bottles (Plastic) 9,549,156 6%

6 Bags (Plastic) 7,825,319 5%

7 Beverage Bottles (Glass) 7,062,199 4%

8 Beverage Cans 6,753,260 4%

9 Straws/ Stirrers 6,263,453 4%

10 Rope 3,251,948 2%

Top Ten Total Debris Items 132,077,087 80%

Total Debris Items Worldwide 166,144,420 100%


Alaska Trashy Trends: Marine Debris Removed

o 1972-1974o 2.4 time increase in

plastic debris along Amchitka Island

o 1975o 57% of trawl samples in

Gulf of Alaska contained marine debris

o 1980s-90so Large amount of

fishing gear found in Kachemak Bay

o Early 1990so Major removals of large

debris like cars occurred annually along Alaskan beaches


Alaska Trashy Trends: Marine Debris Removed

o 2000s-presento Shift to more debris

from shoreline recreational use, including plastics and personal use fishing gear

o 2001-2005o 1,000 lbs/year

removed from Kachemak Bay, on average

o 2005-2012o 3,000 lbs/year

removed from Kachemak Bay, on average


Trashy Trends: Top Items in Alaska Clean Ups

1984-2001 Beverage cans/bottles Car Parts Rope Buoys and Floats

2002-2004 Fast food containers Caps and lids Construction materials Beverage cans/bottles

2005 – 2012 Foam Pieces

(15,000) Cigarettes/Cigarette Filters

(12,800) Beverage Cans/bottles

(10,600) Plastic Pieces

(4,600) Food Wrappers/Containers

(4,300)


Marine Debris Sources

Land Based Activities and Personal Use Daily use items by individuals – toothbrush, food wrapper Household items – soap dispensers, dishes, appliances Recreational Use Items – beverage bottles, food wrappers, sandals

Marine Use: Industrial and Recreational Buoys, Boat parts, Nets, Ropes, Strapping Bands, Gloves, Coolers

Container Spills Nurdles – small plastic pellets aka mermaid tears Large shipments of plastic products

Natural Disasters Large scale: Tohoku Earthquake & Tsunami (Japan), Haiyan

Typhoon (Philippines) Small scale: Local Winter Storms


2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20120

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

Land Based Activities & Personal Use ItemsMarine Uses: Industrial & RecreationalPolyurethane Foam Pieces (Likely from Natural Disasters)

Pre

ces

Recovere

d i

n B

each C

leanup

Kachemak Bay Marine Debris by Source: 2004-2012


Trends in Land Based Sources

Comparison of Plastic Production and Plastic Recycling in the United States from Surfrider

Foundation Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies

Trends in Container Spills

An estimated 10,000 containers are lost annually

In 2001, over 100 million shipping containers crossed the ocean

Pacific Ocean Spills 1990 – Nike Shoes 1994 – Hockey Gear 1997 – LEGO Toys 2012 – Sport Memorabilia


Shipping

Source:Alaska Marine Stewardship Foundation, with vessel traffic data from T Gilbert, World

Meteorological Organization and National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

__ Barge & Commercial

Routes__

Ferry__

Freight

Friendly Floatees Spill in 1992


A container filled with the bath toys was lost overboard in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Tracking their landfall allowed oceanographers to

model global currents. Photo by Jim Ingraham, NOAA Fisheries.

Trends in Marine Industrial Use

Original fishing gear was biodegradable Stone-tipped fishing spears and hooks,

nets, line, and traps from tree fibers Hemp and linen lines, metal barbed

hooks, glass buoys Move to more durable gear

(plastics) Monofilament line, plastic fiber nets,

plastic or foam buoysTrends reflected in derelict gear

Causes more issues with ghost fishing Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies

Recent Marine Gear Recovery Trends: Prince William Sound

Statistics used with permission from Gulf of Alaska Keeper and Chris Pallister. Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies

Alaska Marine Debris: Before Recent Natural Disasters


Predicted Tohoku Tsunami Debris Landfall

Miller and Brennan, 2012. “Debris Accumulation Scenarios in Washington State from the March 2011 Tohoku Tsunami.” Washington Sea Grant.


Much of the debris was predicted to make landfall along Alaska shorelines

Katie Gavenus

units for intensity?

Development Staff. 2012. “A Plan for the Cleanup of Tsunami-Related Marine Debris off Alaska.” Alaska Marine Stewardship Foundation

Predicted Tsunami Debris Impact: Alaska


Tsunami Debris Monitoring in Alaska

Monitored by many organizations and agencies: Airborne Technology (through ADEC) NOAA Alaska Marine Stewardship Foundation

Shoreline currently surveyed

by Airborne Technology, Inc.

contracted by ADEC

Alaska Marine Stewardship Foundation Monitoring Sites

NOAA Monitoring Sites


Montague Island

Located where Prince William Sound meets the Gulf of Alaska

Acts as as a “catcher beach” as currents move debris along the Gulf of Alaska and into Prince William Sound

Montague Island: Before 2012

Pictures used with permission from Gulf of Alaska Keeper


Montague Island: 2012 & After

Pictures used with permission from Gulf of Alaska Keeper and



Statistics used with permission from Gulf of Alaska Keeper and Chris Pallister. Permission required for use.

Foam Collection Comparison: Two Islands in Prince William Sound (Near Montague)


Gore Point

Gore Point is another case study for trends in marine debris

Located on the “Outer Coast” of the Kenai Peninsula, where the Gulf of Alaska curls in to form Cook Inlet


Gore Point Beach: 2007

Picture used with permission from Gulf

of Alaska Keeper


Gore Point Beach: 2012

Picture used with permission from ADEC and

ATI


Clean Up: Black Sand Beach, Yakutat

Picture used with permission from the Alaska Marine Stewardship Foundation


Statistics used with permission

from Gulf of Alaska Keeper and Chris

Pallister.

Permission required for use.

Trends in Polystyrene Foam on Alaska Beaches


Overall Trends

Land Based Activities and Personal Use Worldwide

Account for more than 70% of marine debris by weight in past three decades Kachemak Bay

Moderate Increase 2004-2012 Overall increase since 1980s-1990s

Marine Use: Industrial and Recreational Kachemak Bay

Fairly Steady 2004-2012 More observed in 1980s-1990s

Container Spills Worldwide

Risk of container spills increases every year as more and more items are shipped long distances

Kachemak Bay Items from container spills, including fly swatters and Nerf basketballs have washed up

Natural Disasters Alaska

Significant increase in marine debris on Alaskan beaches following 2011 Tsunami


What Can I Do?

Land Based Activities and Personal Use Reduce, reuse, recycle and dispose of plastics properly Educate others Pick up litter before it reaches the ocean

Marine Use: Industrial and Recreational “Batten down the hatches!” - Secure items at sea to prevent loss overboard Participate in net, rope, and fishing line recycling programs Be aware of where your seafood and marine products come from

Container Spills Minimize personal use of plastic products that are shipped across oceans

Natural Disasters Prepare for disasters to minimize effects (and associated debris) Assist communities affected by disasters to rebuild and clean up Ensure docks, boats, and coastal buildings can withstand rough weather

All Participate in marine debris clean-ups


history of marine debris

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