What is Marine Debris?

Marine debris is defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as “any man-made object discarded, disposed of, or abandoned that enters the coastal or marine environment.” Sources range from debris from inshore rivers to fishing gear from the offshore fishing industries. Some of it gets transported around the world through ocean currents, often getting deposited on beaches and shorelines, where it may remain for hundreds of years. Marine debris leads to a number of adverse results, including environmental, aesthetic, and economic impacts. The detrimental effects it has on the marine environment can range from death or harm to marine life to chemical accumulation and pollution.

Entanglement

Entanglement is when an animal gets entangled in marine debris. One of the biggest sources of entanglement for sea turtles and birds is from fishing line. In Texas, there is a Texas Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program (MRRP) that is coordinated by the Texas Sea Grant College Program.

MRRP is a statewide, volunteer-led effort to reduce monofilament in the environment by: 

• Educating the public about the problems caused by monofilament line left in the environment
• Encouraging recycling through a network of line recycling bins and drop-off locations.
  • Visit Recycling Bins in Texas »
  • Watch entanglement video with Tony Amos »

For more information about MRRP, contact Caitie Christina

Outreach

The Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve (MA-NERR) actively hosts educational programs and volunteer opportunities centered on marine debris, with the goal of connecting people to their environment and empowering them to use their knowledge to make a positive impact.

Research

Here at the Mission-Aransas Reserve, we have initiated a study to monitor marine debris along beach and bay shorelines in the Coastal Bend region: Mustang Island, Port Aransas, Egery Flats, and Padre Island National Seashore. We will be utilizing NOAA Marine Debris Program’s Shoreline Monitoring Protocols, allowing us to compare our findings to other marine debris monitoring projects using this same methodology across the country.

In October 2015, we began collecting samples monthly from established 100m transects. Any debris larger than 2.5 cm (or a bottle cap) is collected, brought back to the lab, sorted by type, counted, and weighed. In addition to accumulation rates, types, and weights, the data will provide insight in terms of seasonal and geographical trends, and sources of the debris.

Data can be found on the NOAA’s Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project website. This data will provide information to resource managers and policy-makers so that solutions can be developed to prevent marine debris from reaching our estuaries and oceans. This project is funded through a grant from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Marine Debris Program in partnership with The University of Texas Marine Science Institute.

Map of Monitoring Stations

Be part of the solution

Addressing marine debris can often feel overwhelming, but it’s important to remember that individual actions can still make a meaningful difference in your community. Here are some ways you can help:

Leave No Trace
Help protect natural areas by ensuring they look as though you were never there.

Choose eco-friendly products
Reduce the number of single-use items in your home. Reuse single-use products when possible, repurpose them for crafts, and recycle eligible materials according to local guidelines.

Speak up
Educate others about marine debris and how they can make a difference. Use your voice to advocate for positive change in your community.

Take action
Organize cleanups in your neighborhood, school, or local park.

For more information, please contact Marine Debris Specialist Caitie Christina at caitie.christina@austin.utexas.edu.