COASTSWEEP Information
Information on Marine Debris

COASTSWEEP INFORMATION Back to the top

COASTSWEEP Over the Years
COASTSWEEP has grown over the last 20 years in a way that reflects people's increased awareness and commitment to the marine environment. In the first few years of COASTSWEEP, participation grew from 391 volunteers (in 1987) to 2,340 (in 1989). Since 1989, the number of volunteers has regularly exceeded 3,000.

The composition of the collected debris has also changed to reflect some positive reductions in certain sources of trash. In the past, tampon applicators were among the Top Ten items collected. This was an indication that our waters were being contaminated with sewage. In 1990, 6,516 tampon applicators were collected. By 2002, volunteers reported only 821. The fact that the number of tampon applicators has continuously decreased over the years is a clear indication that the sewer improvements in Boston Harbor and elsewhere are making a noticeable difference.

Participants are also finding fewer discarded oil and lube bottles than in past years. In fact, the number of oil and lube bottles has dropped to the point that they are no longer tracked as a separate category on the data cards. The decrease in the number of bottles found suggests that more people are recycling this waste - an encouraging sign since even a small amount of oil can harm marine life. If you want to do the right thing, you can drop off leftover oil and oil containers at most municipalities in Massachusetts.

One item that consistently appears at the top of the Top Ten list each year is cigarette butts. Throughout the life of COASTSWEEP, cigarette butts have comprised a large percentage of all items collected and cataloged. Not all cigarette butts found on the beaches were necessarily left by beachgoers. They can also be carried in into the sea in stormwater from city streets. Butts are not just an aesthetic problem, they can also harm wildlife that mistakes them for food, and they have been found in the stomachs of birds, whales, and other marine animals. Also, cigarette filters do not biodegrade and will remain on beaches for many, many years after they are discarded.

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 cleanup, 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, who enters this information into a massive database as part of an international effort. The data is then used to analyze the trends in marine debris and identify its sources to reduce the problem in the future.

INFORMATION ON MARINE DEBRIS Back to the top

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?

• International Coastal Cleanup's 2004 report: An overview of critical concerns for our oceans (116kb PDF)
• Marine Debris Abatement page of the EPA website. Marine Debris Abatement: Trash in Our Oceans -You Can Be Part of the Solution
• EPA has published Assessing and Monitoring Floatable Debris to help states, tribes, and local governments develop assessment and monitoring programs for floatable debris in coastal recreation waters.
• EPA's Voluntary Estuary Monitoring: A Methods Manual includes a chapter on marine debris (Chapter 16), with techniques on organizing a volunteer marine debris monitoring and cleanup program
• NOAA's Marine Debris Program
• The Boston Harbor Association maintains a Marine Debris Cleanup Initiative.
• Cape Cod Bay Challenge is a group of people who are raising awareness of marine pollution and raising funds for the International Coastal Cleanup.

Resources for Teachers

• Turning the Tide on Trash: Marine Debris Curriculum (US EPA)
• Northwestern Hawaiian Island Multi-Agency Education Project's Teacher's Resources