The Ugly Journey Of Our Trash

Marine debris is the rubbish of our everyday lives that makes its way into our ocean. Rubbish travels over land, down streams, rivers and storm drains into the ocean. Once in the ocean, it can drift thousands of miles from its origin to the most remote ocean places, leaving a wake of destruction in its path. Every year, debris kill thousands of marine animals and sea birds, chokes coral reefs, and smothers critical environments. It also contaminates our beaches and favorite recreation sites. Better information about sources and impacts is extremely important to drive changes infrastructure and waste management policies at all levels. Who is responsible? All of us. Together we can help prevent and clear up this mess for a clean, healthy ocean planet.

• Annual plastic production and use of plastics has risen from 1.5 million tons in 1950 to 230 million tons in 2009.
• Over 9 million tons of marine litter may be entering our ocean every year.
• As much as 90 percent of floating marine debris may be plastic.
• Research of the northern fulmar (a seabrid) showed 55 percent of dead, beached birds collected hard plastic in their stomachs.
• Between 50,000 and 90,000 northern fur seals are estimated to be dying every year entangled in marine debris.
• More than 260 species are reported to have been entangled in, or to have ingested, marine debris.
• 35 percent of plankton – eating fish found during a study in the North Pacific Central Gyre had ingested plastic.
• As much as 70 percent of marine litter has been estimated to end up on the seabrid.

Scuba divers are standing up to the onslaught of debris – fins on and off. We’re removing debris underwater and logging the data to influence change at all levels. On land, we can work together to stop rubbish from entering the ocean. We can help inform community action and identify local solutions. 

Join the movement at www.projectaware.org

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