COASTSWEEP 2009
Information About COASTSWEEP
Barcaloungers, toilet bowls, rubber boots, pieces of fishing net, truck tires, industrial tubing, milk crates, vinyl siding, and cigarette butts—these are but some of the items found each year during the Massachusetts COASTSWEEP cleanup.
COASTSWEEP is part of an annual event to raise awareness of marine debris and clean beaches from Boston to Bimini. The International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) is sponsored by the Ocean Conservancy and brings hundreds of thousands of volunteers to beaches, lakes and streams worldwide to remove marine debris. Volunteers collect data on the specific types of debris being found. These data allow the Ocean Conservancy to make discoveries about the behaviors that cause the debris. For more information about the ICC, see www.coastalcleanup.org.
In Massachusetts, volunteers have been pitching in to clean up stretches of beaches, marshes, the seafloor and riverbanks since 1987. September 2008 marked the 21st anniversary of COASTSWEEP, the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) event that began with 391 volunteers collecting almost two tons of debris along 40 miles of coast. The annual event has grown each year and in 2008, 2,900 volunteers cleaned more than 130 miles of coastline and seafloor—collecting nearly 18,000 pounds of marine debris. The 21st year was celebrated with a kickoff at Salisbury Beach State Reservation where 200 dedicated volunteers came out to help clean this beautiful park.
So, what do these volunteers find at a typical cleanup? In 2006, more than 80 percent of the debris collected came from land-based activities—where litter blown from the streets, parking lots, and ball fields ends up in the water. By contrast, only about 9 percent of the marine debris is from ocean-based activities, such as boating and fishing. The end result is thousands of tons of various plastic and paper debris littering the world’s oceans and beaches. To the right is a list of the top 10 items collected along the Massachusetts coast in 2006.
Top Ten Debris Items for 2006
| Rank | Debris Item | Amount | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cigarettes/Cigarette Filters | 68,066 | 46.5 |
| 2 | Food Wrappers and Containers | 11,740 | 8.0 |
| 3 | Caps/Lids | 10,650 | 7.3 |
| 4 | Bags | 6,406 | 4.4 |
| 5 | Beverage Bottles (Plastic) | 5,512 | 3.8 |
| 6 | Rope | 5,161 | 3.5 |
| 7 | Cups, Plates, and Utensils | 5,032 | 3.4 |
| 8 | Straws/Stirrers | 4,881 | 3.3 |
| 9 | Beverage Cans | 4,192 | 2.9 |
| 10 | Beverage Bottles (Glass) | 3,061 | 2.1 |
| Totals | 146,200 | 85.2 | |
Dedicated COASTSWEEP Volunteers
The Massachusetts shoreline would look very different today if it weren't for the volunteers who participate each year. Covering more than 1,500 miles of coast is no small task and it would never occur without the dedication of the thousands of people who get out there and make it happen.
Each beach cleanup is headed by a local coordinator that volunteers time and energy toward identifying one or more sites that need attention and organizing the cleanup activities. Each cleanup is unique and can range in size from a few dedicated volunteers to over 200 at some locations.
Beyond Clean Beaches
COASTSWEEP is more than a beach cleanup. By joining a COASTSWEEP event, volunteers help address future problems by recording what they collect on data cards. At the end of the cleanups, the data are sent to the Ocean Conservancy in Washington DC, where the information is entered into a massive database. The data are then used to analyze the local and international trends in marine debris and identify its sources in an effort to reduce the problem in the future.
Whether it is urban trash or abandoned fishing gear, marine debris is a major marine pollution issue. Every year it injures and kills thousands of marine animals that swallow it or become entangled in it. For more information about marine debris and how you can help, see the Coastal Cleanup website at www.coastalcleanup.org.
To get involved in the cleanup efforts here in Massachusetts, see the COASTSWEEP website at www.coastsweep.umb.edu.
Information on Marine Debris
What is Marine Debris?
Marine debris is defined as any man-made, solid material that enters our
waterways directly (e.g., by dumping) or indirectly (e.g., washed out
to sea via rivers, streams, storm drains, etc.). (Source: http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/debris/).
Where Does Marine Debris Come From?
Marine debris comes from both the land and the sea. On land, trash can
be carried to the ocean by water, wind, and people. Marine debris from
land-based sources accounts for 80% of the marine debris found on beaches
in the United States (Source: http://epa.gov/owow/oceans/debris/).
While careless beachgoers and fishers contribute to the marine debris
problem, trash from on-land sources such as poorly secured garbage cans
can ride a gust of wind or be caught up in storm water runoff and find
its way to the sea.
Ocean-based debris generally comes from commercial and recreational boaters and fishers as well as offshore oil and gas facilities. Lost fishing gear is particularly concerning as some types can "ghost fish" without human involvement for years. In addition to lost fishing gear and waste generated on board vessels or platforms, the vessels and platforms themselves can become marine debris.
What is the Impact of Marine Debris?
The problems associated with marine debris extend well beyond aesthetics. Marine debris can pose serious dangers to humans, birds, fish, marine animals, and marine vegetation.
- Every year, millions of animals are choked, starved, or poisoned when they mistake debris for food. Animals can also become entangled in nets, bags, ropes, and other trash, often resulting in drowning, suffocation, loss of mobility, or starvation.
- Large pieces of debris that wash onto land can disrupt the sediment and jeopardize marine vegetation, destroying habitats and reducing an area's ability to perform its natural functions.
- Human safety is compromised by marine debris. Beachgoers may injure themselves on items such as pieces of glass, wood, or metal while swimming or walking on the sand.
- Marine debris poses a threat to navigation. Propellers can become jammed with fishing line; boats can be damaged by colliding with large pieces of debris; and plastic can clog cooling intakes.
How Can I Help Reduce Marine Debris?
Indirectly, the increase in people living along the shore means that there are more potential sources of debris in close proximity to the water. The problem is made worse by the increase in impervious surfaces (roads, sidewalks, driveways, roofs, parking lots, and compacted soil that prevent water from seeping into the soil and increase stormwater runoff) that come with increased development. But there are ways that you can help reduce marine debris:
- Participate in a COASTSWEEP Cleanup.
- Don't litter.
- Keep storm drains clean.
- Purchase products with little packaging.
- Recycle.
- Ensure that your yard and driveway are trash-free.
- Incorporate low impact development (LID) strategies into construction projects to impervious surfaces.
- Vote to elect officials that support legislation intended to reduce marine debris.
- Teach others about marine debris and encourage them to take action too.
Where Can I Learn More About Marine Debris?
- A Rising Tide of Ocean Debris and What We can Do ABout It (PDF, 3.5 MB) - The Ocean Conservancy's report on the 2008 International Coastal Cleanup.
- Marine Debris Abatement: Trash in Our Oceans—You Can Be Part of the Solution - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Assessing and Monitoring Floatable Debris - This EPA web page can help states, tribes, and local governments develop assessment and monitoring programs for floatable debris in coastal recreation waters.
- Voluntary Estuary Monitoring: A Methods Manual - This EPA manual includes a chapter on marine debris (Chapter 16), with techniques on organizing a volunteer marine debris monitoring and cleanup program.
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Marine Debris Program
- Marine Debris Cleanup Initiative - The Boston Harbor Association
- Interagency Report On Marine Debris Sources, Impacts, Strategies & Recommendations (PDF, 4.5 MB) - NOAA's Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee report to the U.S. Congress, August 2008.
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