Join the Cause

Did you know in our Planet, the annual worldwide waste production is more than 1 billion tons? Recreational boaters can generate about a pound of garbage per boater per day!! Seems like we are learning to produce more trash than in the 1960, where the production of waste was about 1/3 of what we produced now. We cannot let this waste production rate grow any more. Do you know why? Because you only have one house to live, Planet Earth. You may think that it’s not a problem to throw just a piece of paper, maybe a plastic bag, or to leave a beer can on the beach, but remember that there are more than a million people thinking like you. Can you imagine the consequences?

This is why, in an effort to prevent and orientate the public about contamination, our waste production and how it affects the ocean in all means, we have decided to show you some important information you need to know about trash, it’s effects and how you can help.

If we divide our planet in 3 pieces, 2 pieces of it belongs to the Oceans. Water covers 71% of the Earth’s surface and beneath it, live millions and millions of animals that are affected by world contamination.

33% of toxic contaminants in the ocean and coastal waters comes from air pollution, and 44% comes from runoff via rivers and streams.

When trash reaches the oceans, it is known as marine debris. This trash enters the marine environment as a consequence of wrong disposal, handling or negligence. Trash is defined as any object not belonging to that environment, in other words, material produced by humans.

We can not determine exactly how it reaches ocean, as human produced garbage may travel really long distances before just settling on a coast or ocean floor. Marine debris sources are traditionally classified as land or ocean/waterway. Most of the Marine debris originates from land sources due to mismanagement of handling and disposal processes and at times, what may be considered, criminal negligence.

Who suffers the most and to what extent is our marine environment impacted?

The Ocean’s ecosystems

Abandoned nets, plastic tarps and fishing gear among others, can suffocate and harm sensitive coral reef, sea grass bed ecosystems and their benthic (bottom-dwelling) species. Also, watersheds can get polluted and obstructed as a consequence of debris.

Marine wildlife

Approximately 100,000 marine mammals die each year as a consequence of entanglement or ingestion of marine debris. Also fishing line, nets, rope, grocery and trash bags can entangle, injure, and even drown many wildlife species, such as turtles, marine mammals, sea birds, fish and other species. The problem is that most of the affected species are endangered or threatened. Cigarette filters, food bags, pieces of plastic and packaging looks like food to many animals, especially plastic bags for sea turtles as they are often confused for their favorite food, jellyfish. Fish also feed on plastic pellets. Once ingested, these materials can cause starvation and/or choking. Seabirds get entangled in six-pack yokes. More than 250,000 seabirds get entangled in drift nets each year. And the lists of examples has no end.

Conservation minded
boat owners use
moorings

People

The debris coming from personal and medical hygiene can enter the sewer systems and may contain harmful bacteria and pathogens. On the other hand, pieces of glass, beer bottles, and syringes among other hazardous debris can hide in the sandy beaches where we often walk barefoot.

How can you become part of the solution and not of the problem? Easy.

Reduce, reuse, recycle. For example,

Use just fewer plastic bags for shopping or better yet, a reusable one.
Properly dispose of lines, nets and any other gear for fishing in trash containers.
Please, try to keep clean parking lots, sidewalks, streets, water drains, because unfortunately they empty into your oceans.
If you are on the beach or in a boat, please take all your trash and dispose it in corresponding trash receptacles, if there are none, take it with you and dispose it in your home’s trash can
Get involved in cleanups and be an example for others, encourage others to clean up our oceans.
In every day life, use as little detergent as possible for washing clothes and try to don’t use toxic cleaners on your vessel. Try the ecofriendly detergents from companies such as Simple Green, Seaside Naturals, or TRAC Ecological Marine Products.
Use more biodegradable detergents or personal products. (Brands and Internet markets such as: ODOBAN, Freshmart, EcoEndure, Green Work products from Clorox, among others.

FOR DIVERS WHO WANTS TO HELP

Whenever you go out diving, please tie your boat to a buoy or mooring. If there’s none, please, throw the anchor in sandy areas where fragile coral is not disturbed.
In each dive, carry a small mesh bag and try to gather any marine debris you find. If discover questionable or possibly dangerous material, do not risk retrieval and notify the pertinent authorities.
Likewise, fishing gear such as fish baskets or creel (nasas), fishnets, among others are frequently lost or abandoned. If you can, take it with you, if not, notify pertinent authorities.
Join the cause and join to the effort by participating in group activities that clean and restore our marine environment.
Maintain your vessels in good condition free from oils and pollution causing discharges.
Do not over fish, and fish only the species, sizes and quotas allowed by law.
Do not collect sea shells.
Many of our much appreciated wildlife depend on our aid. PROTECT THEM!

How long can trash exist?

According to NOAA, cigarette filters, food wrappers, beverage bottles and cans, grocery and trash bags, fishing line, nets and gear are the biggest ocean offenders.

Debris can spent from days to thousands of years to finally disappear or degrade and become part of the environment.

Cigarette filters 1 to 2 years

A beer or soda can – 10 years

Plastic bottle 100 to 1000
Plastic bags – 150 years

Glass bottle – 4000 years
Disposable glass – 1000 years

Glossary of environmental terms

Biodegradation - The process by which organic substances are broken down by living organisms.

Biodegradable - Capable of being broken down into smaller pieces by natural forces.

Disposal - The permanent storage or removal of trash from the environment.

Endangered Species - Defined under the Endangered Species Act as "any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range."

Habitat - The area in which a plant or animal naturally lives, grows and reproduces; that provides adequate food, water, shelter and living space.

Ingestion - The consumption of an item (in this case debris) by an animal. Ingestion of debris can cause suffocation, clogging of the digestive tract, or artificial sensations of fullness that can result in malnutrition and starvation.

Persistent - Capable of remaining in the environment for long periods of time without being broken down.

Plastic pellets - Small, round pellets that are the raw form of plastic. These pellets are melted down to form plastic products.

Prevention - Effort to stop trash, fishing gear, and other objects from becoming marine debris.

Recycling - The reprocessing of materials to be used again in a similar or different form.

Reuse – use more than once the same material in the original state in an environmental way so it will not become a hazard to the environment and to human as well.

Runoff – Escorrentías, agua que baja incontrolablemente por una quebrada, ríos, drenajes, a consecuencia de lluvias o derretimiento de nieve.

Source - A place or activity that generates debris that enters the marine environment.

Threatened species - A species whose numbers are very low or declining, and likely to become endangered if not protected.

Trash - Articles that have been made and used by humans and subsequently discarded. When these items enter the marine environment, they become marine debris.

Watersheds – land areas that drain water to a particular stream, river, lake, bay or ocean – adversely affecting water quality and habitat.

References

Watch a turtle
laying eggs

http://ga.water.usgs.gov/