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Marine Debris Research
Time for degrade
Types of debris
Survey tools
Keep beach clean
   
Why clean the beach?
Tsunami Debris
What is Exit &
Arrival Survey
 
 
Marine Debris
Arrival Survey
(Ocean Shores, WA)
April, 2018
April, 2017
June, 2016
Feb, 2016
Oct, 2015
Mar. 2015
July 2014
Mar. 2014
Aug. 2013
Mar. 2013
Aug. 2012
April 2012
Sep. 2011
Aug. 2010
   
Marine Debris
Exit Survey
(Miyako Island, Japan)
Aug. 2017
Feb. 2011
Oct. 2010
   
   
Re-imagining
5IMDC
5th International
Marine Debris Conference
What is Marine Debris?
Marine debris is any human-made trash that is thrown out and discarded in the ocean. Even though debris is produced in one country, they can arrive to many other countries traveling across the ocean. Every year, it is estimated that over a billion pounds of debris are thrown into the ocean. Typical types of marine debris are plastics, glass, cloth, derelict fishing gear, metals, rubber, and vessels. These greatly pollute the ocean and threaten the life of many marine communities. Debris that is washed to shore also takes away the beauty from beaches and damage habitat on land. 

Marine debris comes from the land and ocean. On land, litter on roadways makes their ways to the ocean by storm drains, canals, rivers, or streams. Debris from the ocean comes from boats or platforms. Derelict fishing gears, which are fishing lines, nets, crab pots or other equipment used to catch fish, have become more harmful as well. Fishing equipment that was once made by natural fibers has been replaced by materials such as nylon, polyethylene, and polypropylene for higher efficiency. This makes them very difficult to degrade and so they remain in the ocean for a longer period of time or are consumed by marine species. 

Once in the ocean, while some debris can biodegrade, or break down, to smaller pieces, human-made debris cannot completely degrade. Some debris may even take hundreds of years to degrade. Factors such as material, thickness, and environmental condition of the debris contribute to rate of degradation.1 Take a look at the table below to see just how long different types of material take to break down to smaller fragments.
 
Time for Marine Debris to Degrade
Paper towels newspaper Cardboard box
2-4 weeks 6 weeks 2 months
Apple core Waxed milk carton Biodegradable 6-pack ring
2 months 3 months 3 to 6 months
Plywood shopping bag Painted wood
1-3 years 1-20 years 13 years
Foam cup Tin can Styrofoam buoy
50 years 50 years 50 - 80 years
Aluminum 6-pack ring Disposable diaper
200 years 400 - 450 years 450 years
Plastic bottles Fishing line (microfilament) Glass Bottles/Jars
450 years 600 years Undetermined
 

Types of marine debris
 
buoy helmet
detergent bottle bottle cap
cosmetic container styrofoam
buoy paper container
barrel lit plastic pallet
styrofoam propane gas tank
refrigerator toothbrush
plastic shoe sole plastic bottle
fluorescent light fishing net
bicycle tire lighter
ink cartridge plastic pallet
torch rubber material

net & ropes tire
plastic bottles buoy & plastic containers
toy soldier and pieces of plastics and glass nurdles (very small plastic pellets used to produce plastic products)

Correlation between the type of plastic and their depth in the ocean

 

Only a small portion of plastic marine debris are visible and are floating on the surface of the ocean, while a larger proportion of plastic debris sink below. 

 
 

A. Specific gravity:

    This diagram illustrates the approximate depth distribution of each plastic product based on the value of specific gravity. Specific gravity is the density of the object divided by the density of water.

 

B. Filler:

    All plastic products are not made of a single material, but the amalgamation of many other compound additives called “filler” to increase usability or improve design flexibility. If the ratio of filler changes, the value of specific gravity changes as well. The depth distribution is always closely interconnected with the specific gravity of each plastic product.
 

 

 

C. Accumulation of micro-organisms:

    Marine creatures, like algae diatoms, plants, and larval, settle on surfaces of plastic marine debris, increasing the weight of debris and directly changing the existing depth.
 (Please also see the Colonization Mechanism of Living Organisms on Marine Debris)
 

 

 

D. Salinity:

    Change in salinity (amount of salt dissolved in water) concentration at different depths of water also influences the existing depth of plastic marine debris.
 

 

 

E. Plastic marine debris exists at any depth of the ocean:

    They are found at almost any depth, from the ocean surface to the bottom of the 10,000 meter (6 miles) deep sea bed.
 
Survey Tools



1. Quadrat (1 ㎡ = 100cm x 100 cm with 10cm makers)
2. 35 inches Ruler
3. 30 cm Ruler
4. 15 cm Photo Ruler
5. Walkie Talkies
6. Bucket to sort out plastic pellets and Nurdles
7. Garden Shovel
8. Data sheets and Clipboard
9. GPS (Global Positioning System)
10. Camera
11. Tongs to pick up syringes and unhygienic items
12. Container for syringes and clinical devices
13. 1 m/m mesh screen sifter for plastic pellets and Nurdles
14. 5 m/m mesh screen sifter
15. Rubber-coated gloves
16. Trash bags
17. Wheel distance measuring or reel measuring tape
Here are 2 basic approaches to help keep beaches clean.
 
Proactive  
  The goal here is PREVENTION. We want to make sure beach-goers no longer litter or vandalize beach resources during their visits. Through education and outreach, we can reduce the amount of waste left behind. Creating signs to post at beaches is one way to get the message across. Schools could also have marine debris lessons to learn about various aspects to the issue, brainstorm solutions, and make posters that the community can use.
Reactive  
  The goal here is to RESPOND to damage that is already done to beaches. One way is to clean the beach. You can do this individually while you are visiting the beach or as a group beach clean-up event. You can gather your friends, neighbors, and other community members and have a large event as well! This can also be a great opportunity to raise awareness about marine debris to a wider community and educate them on proper beach-going behavior.
 
 
References
1. National Ocean Service. 2014. "Types and Sources". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/learn-basics/types-and-sources. 
2. National Ocean Service. 2014. "Great Pacific Garbage Patch". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/info/patch.html. 
3. National Ocean Service. 2014. "What We Know About the "Garbage Patches"". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/gpposter.pdf. 
5. Iisands4Kids-Presentation.pdf
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