Transcript “Don`t Splash Your Trash!”

“Don’t Splash Your
Trash!”
Developed by Florida Sea Grant Agents:
Marella Crane (Miami-Dade)
Sacheen Tavares (Broward)
Trashy Facts
Americans throw away every year…
40,000,000 million tons of paper
28,000,000,000 billion bottles,
60,000,000,000 billion cans,
4,000,000 million tons of plastic.
The average American generates at least 6 pounds
of trash every day.
Plastic bags and other plastic garbage thrown into
the ocean kills nearly 1,000,000 million sea
creatures every year.
Objectives
Identify types and sources of marine
debris
Analyze the impacts of marine debris on
the environment
Select and adopt at least 3 practices
that will reduce marine debris
Types of Marine Debris
Plastics
Metal
Foamed plastics
Paper
Glass
Wood
Rubber
Cloth
Offshore Sources of Marine
Debris
Merchant ships
Research vessels
Oil and gas
platforms
Recreational boats
Commercial fishing
vessels
Cruise ships
Onshore Sources of Marine
Debris
Beachgoers
Improper disposal of trash on land
Marinas and boatyards
Storm water runoff
Sewer overflows to rivers and streams
Marine debris seriously impacts:
Environment
Humans
Economy
Environmental Impacts
Poisoning of birds and fish through high
levels of heavy metals (copper, cobalt,
iron, lead, mercury, tin)
Damaging of seagrass and coral reef
habitats
Decline in water quality
Environmental Impacts
Entanglement of
marine animals by
debris such as
beverage container
rings, plastic ties,
nets and straps
Environmental Impacts
Ingestion of plastics
causes starvation or
suffocation of
wildlife
Human Impacts
Divers become entangled in ghost gill
nets or plastic lines
Contamination of our drinking water
supply
Beachgoers encounter hazardous
conditions when debris is washed up on
to shore
Human Impacts
Medical waste
and sewage
present dangers
to human health.
Economic Impacts
Coastal communities
lose considerable
income when
littered beaches
must be closed or
cleaned up.
Economic Impacts
The fishing industry
spends thousands of
dollars annually for
the repair of vessels
that are damaged
by debris.
How You Can Help
Try to buy recyclable products
Bring your own garbage bag to the
beach to pick up trash you see
Pick up trash you see on the water
Reduce the amount of trash you
create.
Adopt a beach!
Care! Pass on your knowledge!
Participate in beach cleanups!
Summary
Identify types and sources of marine
debris
Analyze the impacts of marine debris on
the environment
Select and adopt at least 3 practices
that will reduce marine debris
Questions?
Miami-Dade County
Marella Crane
4600 Rickenbacker Causeway
Miami, FL 33149
(305)361-4017
[email protected]
Broward County
Sacheen Tavares
3245 College Avenue
Davie, FL 33314
(954)370-3725
[email protected]