Global Garbage Newsletter for January 7, 2015 Marine litter (marine debris) and plastic pollution *** Bonny L. Hartley, Richard C. Thompson, Sabine Pahl, Marine litter education boosts children’s understanding and self-reported actions, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 90, Issues 1–2, 15 January 2015, Pages 209-217, ISSN 0025-326X, dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.10.049. (sciencedirect/science/article/pii/S0025326X14007334) Abstract: Marine litter is a significant environmental problem inherently linked to individuals’ purchasing, use and disposal behaviour. This research examined 176 British schoolchildren’s (aged 8–13 years) baseline marine litter understanding and self-reported actions, and tested the impact of an educational intervention. All children participated in the educational intervention and completed a pre- and post-intervention questionnaire. At baseline, children were quite concerned about marine litter and recognised some of the causes and impacts of the problem. Children also reported taking a number of actions to help solve the problem. After the intervention, children were significantly more concerned, had a better understanding of the causes and negative impacts, and reported engaging in more actions to reduce the potential causes of marine litter. Understanding the perceptions and behaviours of children is crucial as they represent current and future actors and a potentially important source of social influence among their peers, parents and community. Keywords: Marine debris; Perception; Children; Environment; Education *** Douglas D. Ofiara, The New York Bight 25 years later: Use impairments and policy challenges, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 90, Issues 1–2, 15 January 2015, Pages 281-298, ISSN 0025-326X, dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.10.010. (sciencedirect/science/article/pii/S0025326X1400678X) Abstract: This paper reexamines policies and outcomes concerning the NY Bight Restoration Plan, and the NY–NJ Harbor Estuary Program (NYNJHEP) precipitated by washups of marine debris and medical wastes in the New York Bight some 25-years ago. Findings indicate progress has been made but further work is necessary. Extensive beach closures have not occurred since 1987–88, although localized closings occur annually from pathogens. Objectives of “0” beach closures may not be feasible for some beaches, not to exceed 5% closures may be more achievable. Pathogen and DO data show further reductions of the last 10–20% will be more challenging and costly, suggesting “hot spots” be a focus for further remediation. Marine debris show increasing trends on beaches; presence of balloons, plastic bags, syringes and personal hygiene items found annually is another concern. Future challenges are on two fronts, upstream (harbor estuary based)-toxics, nutrient/organic loads, and atmospheric (bight based)-toxics, metals. Keywords: New York Bight Restoration Plan; NY–NJ Harbor Estuary Program; Marine debris; Pathogens; DO; Economic losses-impacts *** Ta-Kang Liu, Jui-Chuang Kao, Ping Chen, Tragedy of the unwanted commons: Governing the marine debris in Taiwan’s oyster farming, Marine Policy, Volume 53, March 2015, Pages 123-130, ISSN 0308-597X, dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2014.12.001. (sciencedirect/science/article/pii/S0308597X14003285) Abstract: Marine debris is a pollution problem on a global scale, which causes harm to marine ecosystems and consequently results in profoundly negative influences on mankind. This type of pollution can originate from various activities such as leisure and tourism, fishery, land-based sources, and vessels, etc. In this study, it was found that derelict fishing gear (DFG) produced by oyster farming activities is being dispersed along the southwestern coast of Taiwan, consequently reducing the leisure quality and coastal amenities. In order to understand the current problem of DFG, related stakeholders were invited to undergo qualitative interviews to observe the stakeholders’ perceptions pertaining to DFG pollution and their opinions on subsequent mitigation measures. The results of the interviews were then used to explore management issues pertaining to DFG, as well as the trans-boundary pollution problems caused by DFG based on the theory of environmental resource governance and scales of management jurisdiction. Finally, suggestions were provided to effectively reduce the DFG pollution from oyster farming, including the strengthening of environmental education and propagation, sustaining management and monitoring of marine debris by the government, using policy tools, and applying solid waste management principles. Keywords: Marine debris; Derelict fishing gear (DFG); Trans-boundary pollution; Oyster farming *** Frans Oosterhuis, Elissaios Papyrakis, Benjamin Boteler, Economic instruments and marine litter control, Ocean & Coastal Management, Volume 102, Part A, December 2014, Pages 47-54, ISSN 0964-5691, dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2014.08.005. (sciencedirect/science/article/pii/S096456911400249X) Abstract: This paper provides a comprehensive up-to-date review of the literature on the economic instruments that can reduce marine litter. We assess their cost of implementation, level of effectiveness as well as indirect environmental and socio-economic effects (externalities) that may arise as a result of their implementation. The evidence points to an overall beneficial impact of environmental taxes on items such as plastic bags in terms of reduced use, as well as a corresponding low cost of implementation. In the same vein, deposit-refund schemes can achieve high return rates for bottles although at a relatively high cost (especially when the scheme targets a wide range of packaging types). In the case of municipal waste collection, a ‘pay-as-you-throw’ charge can be applied to incentivise waste reduction. In coastal areas, waste collection and treatment can be further supported by the collection of tourist taxes, although there is a high risk that these funds might be used for other purposes. In the fishing industry, rewards for fishing vessels that return waste to shore has been shown to both reduce marine litter as well as complement fishermens income. Since the vast majority of marine litter comes from land-based sources and consists of plastic, economic instruments that target relevant sources of land-based litter more broadly stand to make the greatest contribution to marine litter reduction. The choice of an appropriate intervention is case specific, largely depending on the tackled source of pollution, the countrys institutional characteristics and infrastructure, consumer preferences and habitual behaviour, and the economys overall sectoral composition. *** plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0114395 Williamson DH, Ceccarelli DM, Evans RD, Hill JK, Russ GR (2014) Derelict Fishing Line Provides a Useful Proxy for Estimating Levels of Non-Compliance with No-Take Marine Reserves. PLoS ONE 9(12): e114395. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0114395 Abstract No-take marine reserves (NTMRs) are increasingly being established to conserve or restore biodiversity and to enhance the sustainability of fisheries. Although effectively designed and protected NTMR networks can yield conservation and fishery benefits, reserve effects often fail to manifest in systems where there are high levels of non-compliance by fishers (poaching). Obtaining reliable estimates of NTMR non-compliance can be expensive and logistically challenging, particularly in areas with limited or non-existent resources for conducting surveillance and enforcement. Here we assess the utility of density estimates and re-accumulation rates of derelict (lost and abandoned) fishing line as a proxy for fishing effort and NTMR non-compliance on fringing coral reefs in three island groups of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP), Australia. Densities of derelict fishing line were consistently lower on reefs within old (>20 year) NTMRs than on non-NTMR reefs (significantly in the Palm and Whitsunday Islands), whereas line densities did not differ significantly between reefs in new NTMRs (5 years of protection) and non-NTMR reefs. A manipulative experiment in which derelict fishing lines were removed from a subset of the monitoring sites demonstrated that lines re-accumulated on NTMR reefs at approximately one third (32.4%) of the rate observed on non-NTMR reefs over a thirty-two month period. Although these inshore NTMRs have long been considered some of the best protected within the GBRMP, evidence presented here suggests that the level of non-compliance with NTMR regulations is higher than previously assumed. plosone.org/article/fetchObject.action?uri=info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0114395&representation=PDF *** marinedebrisblog.wordpress/2015/01/07/new-report-detecting-marine-debris-at-sea/ New Report: Detecting Marine Debris At Sea January 7, 2015 by NOAA Marine Debris Program By: Marine Debris Program staff Imagine this common scenario: you’re looking into the horizon over the ocean, and you have just spotted an object in the distance. It’s faint and you know something is there, but you can’t quite make out what it is. Chances are, unless you get closer, you may never know exactly what you saw. This is just one of many challenges scientists and responders face when detecting marine debris in the open ocean, according to a report published today by the NOAA Marine Debris Program. The report is a review of the debris detection efforts that took place in the years following the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in 2011, as well as valuable lessons for the future of marine debris detection. Federal, state, and local partners focused on finding JTMD through several detection methods, including observations from aircraft, unmanned aircraft systems, vessels, shoreline observers, and satellites. NOAA paired detection with modeling in order to focus detection resources on areas where the debris was most likely to be located, given the large area of ocean where the debris dispersed. marinedebris.noaa.gov/research-japan-tsunami-marine-debris/detecting-japan-tsunami-marine-debris-sea-synthesis-efforts-and marinedebris.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/JTMD_Detection_Report.pdf *** To be removed from the Mailing List, send an email to [email protected] with the subject REMOVE. To send information to be divulged on the Mailing List, send an email to [email protected] with the subject NEWS. To add some colleague to the Mailing List, send an email to [email protected] with the subject ADD. To change the email address registered in the Mailing List, send an email to [email protected] with the subject CHANGE. https://facebook/GlobalGarbage https://twitter/GlobalGarbage
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 19:06:08 +0000
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