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
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
Global Marine Debris
Top Ten Items found from 1985-2010
Rank
Debris Item
Number of Debris
Items
Percentage 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%
The Ocean Conservancy has collected International
Coastal Cleanup data for the past 27 years
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
Alaska Trashy Trends:
Marine Debris Removed
o
1972-1974
o
o
1975
o
o
57% of trawl samples in
Gulf of Alaska contained
marine debris
1980s-90s
o
o
2.4 time increase in
plastic debris along
Amchitka Island
Large amount of
fishing gear found in
Kachemak Bay
Early 1990s
o
Major removals of large
debris like cars occurred
annually along Alaskan
beaches
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
Alaska Trashy Trends:
Marine Debris Removed
o
2000s-present
o
o
2001-2005
o
o
Shift to more debris
from shoreline
recreational use,
including plastics and
personal use fishing
gear
1,000 lbs/year removed
from Kachemak Bay, on
average
2005-2012
o
3,000 lbs/year
removed from
Kachemak Bay, on
average
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
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

Plastic Pieces
(10,600)
(4,600)

Food Wrappers/Containers
(4,300)
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
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
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
Kachemak Bay Marine Debris by Source:
2004-2012
16000
Preces Recovered in Beach Cleanup
14000
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
2004
2005
2006
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Land Based Activities & Personal Use Items
Marine Uses: Industrial & Recreational
Polyurethane Foam Pieces (Likely from Natural Disasters)
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
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
Shipping
__ Barge & Commercial Routes
__ Ferry
__ Freight
Source:
Alaska Marine Stewardship Foundation, with vessel traffic data from T Gilbert, World
Meteorological Organization and National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
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.
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
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 buoys
 Trends reflected in derelict gear
 Causes more issues with ghost fishing
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
Recent Marine Gear Recovery Trends:
Prince William Sound
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
Statistics used with permission from Gulf of Alaska Keeper and Chris Pallister.
Alaska Marine Debris:
Before Recent Natural Disasters
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
Predicted Tohoku Tsunami Debris Landfall
Much of the debris
was predicted to make
landfall along Alaska
shorelines
Miller and Brennan, 2012.
“Debris Accumulation Scenarios
in Washington State from the
March 2011 Tohoku Tsunami.”
Washington Sea Grant.
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
Predicted Tsunami Debris Impact: Alaska
Development Staff. 2012. “A Plan for the Cleanup of Tsunami-Related
Marine Debris off Alaska.” Alaska Marine Stewardship Foundation
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
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
NOAA Monitoring
Sites
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
Alaska Marine Stewardship
Foundation 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
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
Montague Island: 2012 & After
Pictures used with permission from
Gulf of Alaska Keeper and Center
for Alaskan Coastal Studies
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
Foam Collection Comparison:
Two Islands in Prince William Sound (Near Montague)
Statistics used with permission from Gulf of Alaska Keeper and Chris Pallister.
Permission required for use.
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
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
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
Gore Point Beach: 2007
Picture used with
permission from Gulf
of Alaska Keeper
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
Gore Point Beach: 2012
Picture used with
permission from
ADEC and ATI
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
Clean Up: Black Sand Beach, Yakutat
Picture used with permission from the Alaska Marine Stewardship Foundation
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
Trends in Polystyrene Foam on Alaska Beaches
Statistics used with
permission from Gulf
of Alaska Keeper and
Chris Pallister.
Permission required
for use.
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
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
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
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
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies