Students cleaning up a beach. (Source: Nature Conservancy)

Overview:

The trash we generate often ends up in our waterways as marine debris. Most of the debris is made of plastic. In the following resources, you will learn what marine debris is and where it comes from.

Objective:

Define and describe marine debris.

Read:

Article: “Citizen's Guide to Protecting the Mississippi Gulf Coast from Marine Debris”

This article published by Mississippi State University Extension provides an overview of marine debris concepts, as well as some examples of common marine debris. Reflect on the following questions:

• What are the most common types of marine debris?
• How are single-use plastics contributing to the problem? 

Article: “Learn About Aquatic Trash”

This brief article from the EPA offers additional information about marine debris. Reflect on the following questions:

• How is marine litter linked to negative economic impacts in a community?
• How do microplastics and microfibers impact marine species?

Watch:

Video (RT 3:17): “Marine Debris”

In this National Ocean Service video, you will hear an overview of marine debris. Reflect on the following questions:

• How are derelict or ghost traps dangerous for marine animals?
• How is floating plastic debris inadvertently part of the marine food chain?

Deep Dive (RT 1:02:58): “NOAA Live! Alaska Webinar 60 - Talking Trash: Marine Debris Research in Alaska”

This recorded webinar hosted by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute discusses marine debris and recent research in Alaska. Reflect on the following questions:

• What are the key terms in the definition of marine debris? Why are these relevant?
• What happens to plastic as it photodegrades?

Explore:

Online Resource: “What is Marine Debris?”

This resource from NOAA's Marine Debris Program explains the basics of marine debris. Click on the hyperlinks to find out specifics on a variety of topics. Reflect on the following questions:

• Why is it relevant that marine debris is found everywhere on Earth including the deepest parts of the ocean?
• Why are derelict fishing vessels and other large marine debris a specific challenge?

Click here to complete the quiz for this module.

What questions do you still have?  Where could you find out more?

U.S. Navy Sailors cleaning up the beach. (Source: Marines)

Overview:

There are many ways that marine debris end up in our waterways. Imperfections in storage, transportation, and disposal are all means by which marine debris accumulate and pollute the world’s oceans. With these resources, you will learn about the pathways of various marine debris by exploring news articles, databases, and research stories.

Objective:

Identify the pathways of marine debris.

Read:

Article: “How Do Natural Disasters Contribute to Marine Debris?”

This NOAA article outlines just one example of the way marine debris makes its way into bodies of water. Reflect on the following questions:

• How do natural disasters result in marine debris? What types of debris is found after a natural disaster?
• What actions can we take to limit marine debris as a result of a natural disaster?

Article: “Great Pacific Garbage Patch”

In this article from National Geographic, you will read an overview of the great pacific garbage patch and how it was formed. Reflect on the following questions: 

• What is the source for the majority of marine debris found in garbage patches? What material is the basis for most marine debris? 
• The article discusses the difficulty of removing the marine debris in the garbage patch. What are some of the issues with removal? Is there a better solution moving forward?

Watch:

Video (RT 8:23): “The Ocean Clean Up”

This video from CNET explores the Ocean Clean Up, a non profit focused on developing technologies to clean up marine debris. The video introduces an interceptor that has already been deployed in two rivers to catch marine debris before it enters the ocean. Reflect on the following questions:

• Why are the interceptors placed at rivers? How does this make you think about our local rivers?
• The video states that the Ocean Clean Up hopes to reach 1,000 rivers by 2025. Do you believe this doable? Why or why not?

Video (RT 7:43): “Growing and Strengthening a Culture of Recycling to Reduce Marine Debris in Saipan's Waters”

In this video produced by NOAA, you will learn about efforts in Saipan to reduce marine debris. Reflect on the following questions:

• How does improving waste management affect marine debris?
• The video shows an activity designed to illustrate animal entanglement in marine debris. Do you think this is an impactful activity? Will education on the results of marine debris help to mitigate the issue? 

Explore:

Interactive Platform: “NOAA Marine Debris Program”

This platform created by NOAA provides additional marine debris resources including a blog, newsletter, and tools designed to help with monitoring and getting involved with marine debris prevention. Explore the following resources:

• Scroll to the section titled “Monitoring Toolbox” This features tools to get involved with the Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project (MDMAP). Take time to explore the tutorials on how to contribute to the project as well as exploring how the data collected is used by scientists. 
• Scroll to the section, titled “Emergency Response” How do natural disasters like hurricanes affect marine debris? Look over the response plans for recent hurricanes and consider how we can incorporate this into our local responses. 

Click here to complete the quiz for this module.

What questions do you still have?  Where could you find out more?

Scuba Diver finds bicycle (Source: Rutger Geerling, Myshot)

Overview:

When land-based litter and debris make their way to local waterways, the impacts can include decreased water quality, the entanglement of marine life, ingestion by marine life, and the leaching of dangerous chemicals into the water. Scientists have determined that they can impact food chains, biodiversity, and human health. In the following resources, you will learn about the consequences of marine debris pathways.

Objective:

Explore the consequences associated with marine debris and its presence in waterways.

Read:

Article: "Marine Debris: The Problem and Its Impact "

In this article from the Debris Free Oceans, you will read about the impacts of marine debris at a local, national, and global level. Reflect on the following questions:

• What are the socioeconomic impacts of marine debris in waterways and how does this interfere with ecosystems and human health?
• How does marine debris specifically impact sea life, such as oysters and other filter feeders? What are the ramifications of these impacts?

Report: "Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program" 

In this coastal report from Pontchartrain Conservancy, you will read about the ecological, environmental, and economic impact of derelict crab traps, a widespread form of marine debris in Louisiana.

The article states "ghost fishing" is an effect of derelict traps. Why is this a detriment to Louisiana coastal zones, and how does this correlate to the survival and mortality of diamondback terrapin turtles? Why is marine debris significant to the overall health and biodiversity of ecosystems?

• What is the three-step process of ghost fishing, and why can it be considered a long-term problem?
• What economic threat does an abundance of derelict crab traps ghost fishing have on commercial fisheries in Louisiana?   

Article: "Neuston In The Great Pacific Garbage Patch and The Impact of Cleanup”

This research article from The Ocean CleanUp discusses the observed correlations and nonlinear relationship between floating plastic and neuston in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Reflect on the following questions:

• What concerns arise due to possible neuston bycatch during plastic removal?
• What five factors influence the distribution of neuston and floating plastic?

Watch:

Video (RT 2:36): “Our Debris Filling The Sea”

This video produced by NOAA  highlights the volumes of marine debris being fouled in our oceans by man-made garbage and cast-outs. Reflect on the following questions:

• Why is marine debris harmful to the environment? What are the ecological risks it can cause?
•  How might marine debris affect human health long term?

Video (RT 4:03): “The Great Pacific Garbage Patch”

This clip from TJ Watson explores the damaging impacts humans have had on our planet, specifically The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Reflect on the following questions:

• How does trash debris make its way into the oceans, and why is it unable to escape The Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
• What are the detrimental effects of trash vortexes on human life?

Explore:

Deep Dive Webinar (RT 48:42): "Plastic Health Summit: Round Table"

In this webinar roundtable presented by the Plastic Soup Foundation, the speakers illustrate the issues of big corporations' production of plastic and the correlations between increases in microplastics and decreases in overall public and environmental health. Reflect on the following questions:

• Why do the speakers argue ocean clean-ups are not the solution?  
• What do the speakers mean when they say this is not a pollution problem but a production problem?

Click here to complete the quiz for this module.

What questions do you still have?  Where could you find out more?

Marine Debris (Source: NOAA)

Overview:

There has been an influx of research into marine debris and mitigation strategies in recent years. With that, a substantial number of potential solutions have been introduced and developed. In the following resources you will learn about the various methods that have been explored to limit and clean up marine debris as well as the challenges that may come along with them.

Objective:

Investigate the mitigation strategies and potential solutions to marine debris.

Read:

Article: “The World's Largest Ocean Clean Up Has Officially Begun”

This article published by Forbes explores the implementation of a floating boom system designed to trap floating marine debris. Reflect on the following questions:

• What potential problems do you see with this boom system? 
• Do you think removal of debris for garbage patches is a feasible goal? 

Article: “Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program”

In this article from Pontchartrain Conservancy, you will read about a focused effort for removing abandoned crab traps from pontchartrain basin waterways. Reflect on the following questions:

• What dangers do derelict crab traps pose to waterways and those that use them?
• What does the term "Ghost Fishing" refer to?

Watch:

Video (RT 5:02): “Trash Trip with Marine Debris Tracker”

This clip from Ocean Today covers an app designed to encourage people to pick up litter and track types of trash found that may become marine debris. Reflect on the following questions:

• This video focuses on preventing marine debris rather than removing it from the ocean. What are your thoughts on this strategy versus ocean clean up efforts?
• The app introduced is trying to engage the community to help with trash pick up. Do you think this type of public engagement will work? Why or why not?

Video (RT 2:53): “Our Debris is FIlling the Sea”

This video from NOAA, provides an overview of the hazards of marine debris. Reflect on the following questions:

• What are some of the common types of marine debris listed by the video? Have you seen these in your environment?
• The video states that the best way to reduce marine debris is to reduce the use of common single use products. Can you think of ways this can be accomplished?

Explore:

Story Map: “Marine Debris in Coastal Parks”

In this story map from the National Park Service (NPS) Water Resource Division, you will learn about the plastic pollution littering coastal parks and the associated research from NPS. Reflect on the following question:

• At what point in its life cycle is it easiest to “clean up” plastic marine debris?

Click here to complete the quiz for this module.

What questions do you still have?  Where could you find out more?