Litter and Marine Debris

Litter on the beach and in the ocean is increasingly becoming an issue.  The number one offender according to Surfrider San Diego Chapter’s 2007 Beach Cleanup Report was plastic. Plastic, like diamonds, are forever! Because plastics do NOT biodegrade, no naturally occurring organisms can break these polymers down. Instead, plastic goes through a process called photodegredation, where sunlight breaks down plastic into smaller and smaller pieces until there is only plastic dust. But always plastic remains a polymer. When plastic debris meets the sea it can remain for centuries causing untold havoc in ecosystems.  The North Pacific Garbage Patch is a large area where currents converge, about halfway between San Francisco and Hawaii.  Studies have shown that plastic outweighs plankton by a factor of six to one in some areas.
 
As you can see, not only is litter on our local beaches ugly and gross, but it can have a global effect as it turns into marine debris.  There are so many examples of birds, fish, turtles, etc. being impacted by marine debris that people often don’t think twice about the importance.
 
For more info visit www.algalita.org
 
What can you do to help?
Stop plastic pollution at the source by using less disposable plastic is a great first step.  Having a reusable bottle to refill everyday and taking canvas bags when you go shopping are easy ways to start.  Surfrider has launched a Rise Above Plastics campaign and welcomes more volunteers to help work on it.
 
Surfrider always hosts at least two beach cleanups each month on the second and fourth Saturdays with the help of our friends from San Diego Coastkeeper.
 
For a full schedule please visit www.surfriderSD.org/beachcleanups.php

For detailed info on coastal threats around the world visit Surfrider’s Coastal A-Z:
http://www.surfrider.org/whatwedo4b.asp
 
For current information on San Diego County water quality visit:
http://www.earth911.org/waterquality/default.asp?cluster=1