What is marine debris?

Marine debris is anything that is man-made and thrown away or lost in the ocean. Marine debris is usually from someone's carelessness. People throw trash away and litter, which enters the ocean where marine animals such as dolphins, fish and whales live.

Examples of marine debris are plastic soda bottles, cigarette lighters and 6-pack rings. Someone probably threw them into the ocean or left them on the beach after they used them.

If they are made of plastic, they float and they are not biodegradable. That means they will be around as a danger to marine life for a long time.

Where does it come from? Where Does it Go?

Marine debris comes from many different places. It could come from a person that threw away trash on the beach or into a storm drain. It could come from a ship that broke apart or lost its fishing nets or some cargo. It's called flotsam if it was lost overboard, and jetsam if it was thrown overboard.

Once it is in the ocean, it goes where the currents take it. It can go all over the world!

Once, some people found a little rubber duck on a Maine, USA beach. They found out that the duck had been part of some cargo lost off a ship in the North Pacific Ocean eleven years earlier! (Harpers Magazine, January 2007)

Why is it a problem?

Marine debris is a big problem around the world! Every year, marine debris harms animals and people, pollutes their habitat, and stops them from living happily. Some of the animals are endangered species. People don't notice what harm they are doing, so they just do it even more.

  • It pollutes the water and can make people sick.
  • It is a hazard for ships when they get stuck in the debris or hit it.
  • It causes animals to choke, get sick, starve or drown.
  • 6-pack rings choke many fish, turtles and marine mammals.
  • Cigarette lighters are eaten by birds and fed to their chicks.
  • Plastic bags wrap around coral reefs or get eaten by animals that think they are jellyfish.
Time Until These Types of Marine Debris Degrade:

cigarette filter

1 - 5 years

plastic bag

10 - 20 years

plastic cup

50 years

aluminum can

80 - 200 years

plastic bottle

450 years

fishing line

600 years

glass bottle

1 million years

Information from "Marine Debris in Hawaii," pamphlet, NOAA, 2005.

"Tons of flammable 'beads' reported" (Honolulu Advertiser 3/10/07)http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/localnews) The U.S. Army issued an alert on 3/09/07 to people on Ma'ili Beach on Oahu, not to touch highly flammable, one-inch bead-like objects called propellant grains that are floating to shore. They say the grains are from tons of munitions that were dumped in the water after World War II. The grains burn like gunpowder.

The alert says: "If you find one, do not touch it. Propellant grains are highly flammable and sensitive to friction and static electricity. If you have one, place it in water. Call 911. Source: U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii

This is marine debris that is over 50 years old, and it can still hurt people!

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