Marine Debris Ruins Beaches; Kills Wildlife
By FRANK CARINI/ecoRI News staff
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| Marine debris in the water off India Point Park in Providence. (Frank Carini/ecoRI News staff) |
Marine debris is ugly. Just look at the photo to the right. Plastic bottles, Styrofoam cups and blocks, and wood pieces of various shapes and sizes make it difficult to see the water off India Point in Providence
The photo was taken the day after tropical storm Irene barreled through the Ocean State
Marine debris is typically defined as any man-made object discarded, disposed of or abandoned that enters the coastal or marine environment. It may enter directly from a ship, or indirectly when washed out to sea via rivers, streams and storm drains.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), nearly 50 percent of marine debris originates from land-based sources.
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| This marine debris was washed onshore by tropical storm Irene, making it easier to be picked up. |
As society has developed new uses for plastics, the variety and quantity of such items found in the marine environment has increased dramatically, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These products range from common domestic materials — bags, cups, bottles and balloons — to industrial products such as strapping bands, plastic sheeting, car parts and resin pellets to lost or discarded fishing gear.
Styrofoam, glass, metal and rubber are similar to plastic in that they are used in a wide range of products and their occurrence as marine debris is overwhelming. While they can be worn away – broken down into smaller and smaller fragments — they generally don’t biodegrade entirely.
For the past 25 years, in an effort to help clean up the marine debris that is choking beaches and wildlife worldwide, the Ocean Conservancy has led the International Coastal Cleanup. TheAudubon Society of Rhode Island organizes the Ocean State
Last summer, 2,147 Rhode Island volunteers removed 26,591 pounds of junk from the Ocean State
Cigarettes/cigarette filters: 43,623, 33.2 percent of the total amount, in numbers, of waste collected.
Food containers/wrappers: 12,885, 9.8 percent.
Plastics bags: 8,094, 6.2 percent.
Plastic beverage bottles: 7,186, 5.5 percent.
Beverage cans: 5,739, 4.4 percent.
Glass beverage bottles: 4,778, 3.6 percent.
Balloons: 1,486, 1.1 percent.
Shotgun shells: 877, 0.67 percent.
Diapers: 200, 0.15 percent.
Cars/car parts: 201, 0.15 percent.
Syringes: 161, 0.12 percent.
Tires: 112, 0.09 percent.
Appliances: 19, 0.01 percent.
55-gallon drums: 16, 0.01 percent.
Food containers/wrappers: 12,885, 9.8 percent.
Plastics bags: 8,094, 6.2 percent.
Plastic beverage bottles: 7,186, 5.5 percent.
Beverage cans: 5,739, 4.4 percent.
Glass beverage bottles: 4,778, 3.6 percent.
Balloons: 1,486, 1.1 percent.
Shotgun shells: 877, 0.67 percent.
Diapers: 200, 0.15 percent.
Cars/car parts: 201, 0.15 percent.
Syringes: 161, 0.12 percent.
Tires: 112, 0.09 percent.
Appliances: 19, 0.01 percent.
55-gallon drums: 16, 0.01 percent.
This year’s cleanup will be held Saturday, Sept. 17, from 9 a.m. to noon. To volunteer, contact July Lewis at the Audubon Society at 401-949-5454, ext. 3044, or via e-mail at jlewis@asri.org, or contact one of the local cleanup leaders listed below. The Sept. 17 cleanup is a rain or shine, but may be postponed in the event of a severe storm.
Members of the ecoRI News Green Team will be helping to clean Sabin Point in East Providence
Saturday, Sept. 17, from 9 a.m.-noon, unless otherwise noted.
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• Waypossett at the
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• Sabin Point. Michaela Hurley at 401-289-2112 or laneandjen1@cox.net
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LITTLE COMPTON
• Town Shoreline, various locations. Sandra Farr at 401-635-8640 or jsfarr@cox.net
• Town Shoreline, various locations. Sandra Farr at 401-635-8640 or jsfarr@cox.net
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NARRAGANSETT
• Camp Cronin/Point Judith. Stephany Hessler at 401-272-3540, ext. 130, or
shessler@savebay.org. This cleanup will be held Saturday, Sept. 10, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Aunt Carrie’s Beach. Heather Biben at heatherbiben@hotmail.com
•Narragansett Town Beach
• South Ferry Road/URI Narragansett Bay. Pam Rubinoff at 401-480-8004 or rubi@crc.uri.edu
• Salty Brine/Sand Hill Cove. Rosalie Fairman at 401-789-6579
• Camp Cronin/Point Judith. Stephany Hessler at 401-272-3540, ext. 130, or
shessler@savebay.org. This cleanup will be held Saturday, Sept. 10, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Aunt Carrie’s Beach. Heather Biben at heatherbiben@hotmail.com
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• South Ferry Road/URI Narragansett Bay. Pam Rubinoff at 401-480-8004 or rubi@crc.uri.edu
• Salty Brine/Sand Hill Cove. Rosalie Fairman at 401-789-6579
• First Beach/Easton’s Beach. Dave McLaughlin at 401-465-0628 or dmclaughlin71@hotmail.com
• King’s Beach. Tom Freeman at 401-848-7619 or Hotdealtom50@cox.net
• Compass Rose & Quonset Point Beaches. Mike Morin at mdmorin@yahoo.com
• Mount View/Calf Pasture Point. Janine Paiva at 401-855-5264 or janiner2@verizon.net. This cleanup will be held from 1-4 p.m.
• Common Fence Point. Mil Kinsella at 401-633-2606 or sterlingmil@cox.net
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• Fields Point, Save The
TIVERTON
• Grinnell’s Beach/Fogland Point. Alita Marks at alita_marks@hotmail.com
• Grinnell’s Beach/Fogland Point. Alita Marks at alita_marks@hotmail.com
• Apponaug Cove. Jennifer Pelopida at 401-527-4649 or pelopidaj@yahoo.com
• Conimicut Point. Marcia Peña at 401-921-3267 or marcia42451@aol.com
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WESTERLY
•Misquamicut Beach , East Side , Weekapaug Breachway. Mark Burbelo at 401-322-7134 or mburbelo@gza.com
• Misquamicut, West of State Beach. Bill Harris at 401-487-3777 or mailliw@cox.net
• Watch Hill to Misquamicut, Weekapaug to Quonochontaug Breachway, plus sites inCharlestown
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• Misquamicut, West of State Beach. Bill Harris at 401-487-3777 or mailliw@cox.net
• Watch Hill to Misquamicut, Weekapaug to Quonochontaug Breachway, plus sites in
