Global Garbage Newsletter for June 5, 2014 Marine litter (marine debris) and plastic pollution *** link.springer/article/10.1007/s00227-014-2432-8 Miriam C. Goldstein, Henry S. Carson, Marcus Eriksen Relationship of diversity and habitat area in North Pacific plastic-associated rafting communities Marine Biology June 2014, Volume 161, Issue 6, pp 1441-1453 Abstract Plastic and other anthropogenic debris (e.g., rubber, tar) augment natural floating substrates (e.g., algal rafts, pumice) in the open ocean, allowing “islands” of substrate-associated organisms to persist in an otherwise unsuitable habitat. We examined a total of 242 debris objects collected in the eastern Pacific in 2009 and 2011 (32–39°N, 130–142°W) and the western Pacific in 2012 (19–41°N, 143–156°E). Here, we ask: (a) What taxa are associated with plastic rafts in the North Pacific? and (b) Does the number of taxa associated with plastic debris vary with the size of the debris “island?” We documented 95 rafting taxa from 11 phyla. We identified several potentially invasive plastic-associated rafting taxa, including the coral pathogen Halofolliculina spp. In concordance with classic species–area curves, the number of rafting taxa was positively correlated with the size of the raft. Our findings suggest that diversity patterns on plastic debris are compatible with the concept of island biogeography. *** Richard S. Quilliam, Julie Jamieson, David M. Oliver, Seaweeds and plastic debris can influence the survival of faecal indicator organisms in beach environments, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Available online 27 May 2014, ISSN 0025-326X, dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.05.011. (sciencedirect/science/article/pii/S0025326X14002896) Abstract: The revised Bathing Water Directive (rBWD) introduces more stringent standards for microbial water quality and promotes more pro-active management of the beach environment through the production of a bathing water profile (BWP). The aim of this study was to determine whether living seaweeds in the littoral zone are colonised by faecal indicator organisms (FIOs), and to quantify the survival dynamics of waterborne Escherichia coli in microcosms containing senescing seaweeds. Living seaweed (Fucus spiralis) was not associated with FIO colonisation, although could be providing a protected environment in the underlying sand. Senescing seaweeds enhanced waterborne E. coli survival compared to plastic debris, with the brown seaweed Laminaria saccharina facilitating greater E. coli persistence than either Chondrus crispus or Ulva lactuca. This has important implications for FIO survival on bathing beaches as the majority of beach-cast biomass is composed of brown seaweeds, which could support significant levels of FIOs. Keywords: Beach grooming; FIO; revised Bathing Water Directive (rBWD); Waterborne pathogens; Wrack *** onlinelibrary.wiley/doi/10.1002/2014EF000240/abstract Rachel W. Obbard, Saeed Sadri, Ying Qi Wong, Alexandra A. Khitun, Ian Baker and Richard C. Thompson Global warming releases microplastic legacy frozen in Arctic Sea ice Earths Future Accepted manuscript online: 20 MAY 2014 09:11AM EST | DOI: 10.1002/2014EF000240 Abstract When sea ice forms it scavenges and concentrates particulates from the water column, which then become trapped until the ice melts. In recent years, melting has led to record lows in Arctic sea ice extent, the most recent in September 2012. Global climate models, such as that of Gregory et al. [2002], suggest that the decline in Arctic sea ice volume (3.4% per decade), will actually exceed the decline in sea ice extent, something that Laxon et al. [2013] have shown supported by satellite data. The extent to which melting ice could release anthropogenic particulates back to the open ocean has not yet been examined. Here we show that Arctic sea ice from remote locations contains concentrations of microplastics at least two orders of magnitude greater than those that have been previously reported in highly contaminated surface waters, such as those of the Pacific Gyre. Our findings indicate that microplastics have accumulated far from population centers and that polar sea ice represents a major historic global sink of man-made particulates. The potential for substantial quantities of legacy microplastic contamination to be released to the ocean as the ice melts therefore needs to be evaluated, as do the physical and toxicological effects of plastics on marine life. Keywords: Microplastics; sea ice; Arctic; pollution onlinelibrary.wiley/doi/10.1002/2014EF000240/pdf Accepted Articles (Accepted, unedited articles published online and citable. The final edited and typeset version of record will appear in future.) *** Jennifer F. Provencher, Alexander L. Bond, April Hedd, William A. Montevecchi, Sabir Bin Muzaffar, Sarah J. Courchesne, H. Grant Gilchrist, Sarah E. Jamieson, Flemming R. Merkel, Knud Falk, Jan Durinck, Mark L. Mallory, Prevalence of marine debris in marine birds from the North Atlantic, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Available online 15 May 2014, ISSN 0025-326X, dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.04.044. (sciencedirect/science/article/pii/S0025326X14002707) Abstract: Marine birds have been found to ingest plastic debris in many of the world’s oceans. Plastic accumulation data from necropsies findings and regurgitation studies are presented on 13 species of marine birds in the North Atlantic, from Georgia, USA to Nunavut, Canada and east to southwest Greenland and the Norwegian Sea. Of the species examined, the two surface plungers (great shearwaters Puffinus gravis; northern fulmars Fulmarus glacialis) had the highest prevalence of ingested plastic (71% and 51%, respectively). Great shearwaters also had the most pieces of plastics in their stomachs, with some individuals containing as many of 36 items. Seven species contained no evidence of plastic debris. Reporting of baseline data as done here is needed to ensure that data are available for marine birds over time and space scales in which we see changes in historical debris patterns in marine environments (i.e. decades) and among oceanographic regions. Keywords: Ocean; Plastic; Pollution; North Atlantic; Shearwater; Fulmar Note to users: Corrected proofs are Articles in Press that contain the authors corrections. Final citation details, e.g., volume and/or issue number, publication year and page numbers, still need to be added and the text might change before final publication. Although corrected proofs do not have all bibliographic details available yet, they can already be cited using the year of online publication and the DOI , as follows: author(s), article title, Publication (year), DOI. Please consult the journals reference style for the exact appearance of these elements, abbreviation of journal names and use of punctuation. When the final article is assigned to an volumes/issues of the Publication, the Article in Press version will be removed and the final version will appear in the associated published volumes/issues of the Publication. The date the article was first made available online will be carried over. *** S. Rech, V. Macaya-Caquilpán, J.F. Pantoja, M.M. Rivadeneira, D. Jofre Madariaga, M. Thiel, Rivers as a source of marine litter – A study from the SE Pacific, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 82, Issues 1–2, 15 May 2014, Pages 66-75, ISSN 0025-326X, dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.03.019. (sciencedirect/science/article/pii/S0025326X14001490) Abstract: Composition and abundance of persistent buoyant litter (plastics, polystyrene and manufactured wood) were investigated at riversides and on adjacent coastal beaches of four rivers flowing into the SE Pacific Ocean. Persistent buoyant litter made up the main share of litter at riversides (36–82%) and on coastal beaches near the river mouths (67–86%). The characteristic litter composition of each river is attributable to human influences along its course. Riverine litter items were deposited to both sides of the river mouths on coastal beaches, and their abundance generally declined with distance from the river mouth. However, maximum litter accumulations were often found on beaches north of the river mouth, suggesting a long-term influence of the prevailing equatorward low-level jet along the Chilean coast. The results confirm that riverine transport has an important impact on litter abundances on coastal beaches. Keywords: Riverine litter; Litter composition; Litter abundance; Marine beaches; Riversides *** theoceancleanup/press.html Press: The Ocean Cleanup, developing technologies to extract, prevent and intercept plastic pollution *** unep.org/pdf/CMS-Op-Ed-on-Marine-Debris22May2014.pdf The Ugly Truth about Garbage and Island Biodiversity This year International Day of Biological Diversity (22 May) focuses on islands. Bradnee Chambers, Executive Secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals discusses the impact of the growing problem of marine debris on islands’ wildlife and the economic and environmental consequences. *** cbd.int/doc/notifications/2014/ntf-2014-059-marine-en.pdf Ref.: SCBD/SAM/DC/JL/JAIJG/83469 23 April 2014 NOTIFICATION CBD Expert Workshop to Prepare Practical Guidance on Preventing and Mitigating the Significant Adverse Impacts of Marine Debris on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity and Habitats 2 to 4 December 2014 - Baltimore, United States of America Dear Madam/Sir, I have the pleasure to inform you that, pursuant to decision XIIl 8 (paragraph 26), the Secretariat is convening an Expert Workshop to Prepare Practical Guidance on Preventing and Mitigating the Significant Adverse Impacts of Marine Debris on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity and Habitats, from 2 to 4 December 2014, hosted in the United States of America at Baltimore. The workshop is being organized with financial support from the European Commission. *** cbc.ca/quirks/2014/05/31/2014-05-31-1/ Microplastics on Ice Saturday, May 31, 2014 Significant amounts of tiny fragments of plastic have been discovered in Arctic ice. Researchers have discovered that Arctic sea ice is contaminated with tiny fragments of plastic. Tiny fragments of plastic from run-off, dumped garbage and fishing gear - known as microplastic - has been found in many of the worlds oceans and coastlines, and there is concern that it may be having impact on sea life. Dr. Rachel Obbard, an assistant professor in the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, was studying sea-ice cores when she was surprised to find a high concentration of plastic in the ice. Sea ice naturally takes up particles from the water as it forms, and Dr. Obbard thinks that the sea ice is acting as a sponge, collecting plastic that enters the Arctic Ocean from the Atlantic and Pacific. As multi-year sea-ice disappears, this reservoir of frozen plastic is likely to be released back into the Arctic Ocean. cbc.ca/quirks/media/2013-2014/qq-2014-05-31_01.mp3 *** cbc.ca/news/technology/arctic-sea-ice-polluted-with-microplastics-1.2660021 Arctic sea ice polluted with microplastics Pollutants may wind up in Arctic food chain as climate warms, ice melts CBC News Posted: May 30, 2014 4:33 PM ET Last Updated: May 30, 2014 5:34 PM ET Arctic sea ice has sopped up and stored large quantities of microplastic pollution from populated areas in the south, a new study has found. Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic from microscopic to fingernail-sized that have been found polluting oceans and lakes around the world over the past decade, but not so far north as the Arctic Ocean. Scientists are concerned about them because they tend to suck up and concentrate other pollutants in the environment, which enter the food chain when animals swallow microplastics. Rachel Obbard, a materials scientist at Dartmouth College in New Hamphire, discovered that Arctic sea ice was contaminated with microplastics by accident when she melted the ice in order to count diatoms – microscopic algae that live under the ice. cbc.ca/player/AudioMobile/Quirks%20and%20Quarks/ID/2461183367/ *** businessweek/articles/2014-05-30/how-so-much-plastic-got-into-the-frozen-arctic-sea How So Much Plastic Got Into the Frozen Arctic Sea By Caroline Winter May 30, 2014 The Arctic Ocean is considered one of the world’s “last pristine ecosystems.” That’s why Rachel Obbard, a Dartmouth University professor who studies polar ice and materials science, was shocked to find that Arctic sea ice contains large quantities of plastic and synthetic particles. “I used to think of Arctic sea ice as unaffected by man-made pollutants,” she says. “It’s not the case.” In a study published in the open-access journal Earth’s Future, Obbard and her colleagues write that more than a trillion bits of plastic may be released into the ocean over the next 10 years as global warming speeds the melting of Arctic ice. Obbard stumbled upon the microplastics while examining four enormous samples of so-called “sea ice,” which generally forms during the winter and largely melts away during the summer. Most sea ice has been frozen from two to five years and measures roughly one to five meters from surface to sea level. The samples, each about 1 meter thick (3.2 feet), had been collected from locations roughly 1,000 kilometers apart during Arctic expeditions in 2005 and 2010. *** oceana.org/en/blog/2014/05/arctic-ice-melt-could-unlock-trillions-of-frozen-microplastics Arctic Ice Melt Could Unlock Trillions of Frozen Microplastics Posted Fri, May 30, 2014 by Brianna Elliott Out of the nearly 300 million tons of plastic created in 2012, nearly 10 percent of it ended up in oceans, according to Phys.org. That trash has to go somewhere — washing onto coastlines and estuaries, or floating in the vast ocean. You may have heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an area within the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre where an enormous amount of trash circulates. Now, however, it looks like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch has an unassuming competitor in trapping marine debris: the Arctic. A recently published study in Earth’s Future found that a significant amount of microplastics, sub-millimeter broken down pieces of plastic, sit frozen in Arctic sea ice — enough to designate the Arctic as a major global sink for these tiny plastic particles. If melting trends continue at their current rate, explain the authors, the sea ice could unlock over one trillion pieces of microplastics over the next decade alone. *** teachwild.org.au/teacher-resources Teacher Resources The TeachWild teacher resource page provides you with all the necessary downloadable materials on conducting marine debris surveys. Marine Debris Beach Surveys: Sampling Methods You can decide on which sampling method is best suited for your team using the guidelines provided below for each survey methodology. *** https://attendee.gotowebinar/register/7463317062480415234 TeachWild Online Conference in Celebration of World Oceans Day Wed, Jun 11, 2014 3:30 AM - 4:30 AM CEST Show in My Time Zone People around the world depend on a healthy, clean and productive ocean in order to survive and thrive. World Oceans Day is the official UN-designated international day of ocean celebration. The theme for 2014 is “Together we have the power to protect the ocean!” This online conference will celebrate the work that scientists, students, teachers and members of the community have completed on the TeachWild program. Citizens from across Australia have collected data on marine debris which has contributed to the national marine debris database and CSIRO research. This data will be used to understand the size, type and sources of marine debris on our coastline and its impacts on marine species. *** youtu.be/ke19ebM-wSo Our Oceans Challenge - ouroceanschallenge.org Published on 4 Jun 2014 Our Oceans Challenge is the platform where entrepreneurs, students, offshore experts, scientists and innovators share and enrich ideas for clean and healthy oceans. We make ocean opportunities happen by connecting our coalition of corporate partners to people with brilliant ideas and the talent and expertise to make real impact. https://youtube/user/InnovationFctry *** plastictides.wordpress/2014/05/26/24th-annual-setac-europe-meeting/ 24TH ANNUAL SETAC EUROPE MEETING Posted on May 26, 2014 by plastictides Last week the 24th annual SETAC (Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry) Europe meeting took place in Basel, Switzerland. The meeting had more than 2000 attendees during 4 days (11-15th of May) at Basel Congress Center. As a meeting about toxicology, subjects could get very broad and in fact they did, but on one particular day, a whole session was dedicated to macro and microplastic pollution (Themed “Macro, micro and nanoplastic pollution in the aquatic and terrestrial environments: Sources, fate, exposure and ecological and toxicological impacts”). Subjects on the talks varied from microplastics presence in sediments to seafood till the effects of the leaching of chemical compounds from plastics to the organisms ingesting them and the environment. In particular, the most interesting and innovative talks came from E. Besseling, from Wageningen University, who studied effects of nanoplastics on growth and reproduction of algae and zooplankton, and M. Rani and M. Jang, from Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, who studied the release of Hexabromocyclododecane also known as HBCDs (a flame retardant used as a plastic additive) on expanded polystyrene buoys (and other products such as electronics and house items) in the water and mussels attached to them. *** ecowatch/2014/05/24/california-ban-plastic-microbeads/ California Assembly Passes Historic Law to Remove Plastic Microbeads from Personal Care Products EcoWatch | May 24, 2014 10:38 am In a historic vote yesterday, the California Assembly passed the Microplastic Nuisance Prevention Law to ban the sale and manufacturing of personal care products containing tiny, synthetic plastic microbeads. Thanks to 5 Gyres Institute, the group that authored the bill sponsored by Assembly Member Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica), California sets a national precedent for holding companies liable for products that harm aquatic species and pollutes our water. leginfo.ca.gov/pub/13-14/bill/asm/ab_1651-1700/ab_1699_bill_20140213_introduced.html *** 5gyres.org/posts/2014/05/24/california_assembly_votes_to_ban_the_microbead_woot/ California Assembly Votes To Ban The Microbead! Woot! Posted on: May 24th, 2014 by Stiv Wilson HUGE VICTORY TODAY! Thanks to all that helped us make this happen! California Assembly Passes Microplastic Nuisance Prevention Law To Remove Plastic Microbeads from Personal Care Products SACRAMENTO, CA In a historic vote, The California Assembly voted today to pass The Microplastic Nuisance Prevention Law to ban the sale and manufacture of personal care products containing tiny, synthetic plastic microbeads. The 5 Gyres Institute authored the bill, and is sponsored by Assembly Member Richard Bloom. (D-Santa Monica) The bill comes after 5 Gyres and researchers from SUNY Fredonia discovered large quantities of plastic microbeads escaping wastewater treatment in several New York watersheds, The Great Lakes, Chicago River, and Los Angeles River. In 2013, 5 Gyres and SUNY published a peer-reviewed paper in the journal, Marine Pollution Bulletin, documenting high concentrations of plastic microbeads in The Great Lakes. *** campaign.r20.constantcontact/render?ca=0ca11530-556d-462d-8310-2af32893f323&c=676dc610-92ff-11e3-b05c-d4ae52754b78&ch=68a0eee0-92ff-11e3-b068-d4ae52754b78 Ahoy! Its the 5 Gyres Newsletter! Klean Kanteen Matching Grant, Chris Jordan Microbeads Art, Legislative Wins and the Viking Gyre Expedition Sets Sail *** us3.campaign-archive1/?u=8cbf453c18e9074b9004eb8a0&id=2091c4858f&e=539ddffd7e ZWE May Newsletter *** snocomrc.org/Projects/Restoration/Derelict-Gear.aspx Ghost Pots Of Puget Sound Check out the MRCs new video about our work to remove derelict crab pots in Port Gardner. youtu.be/ru4o-rfVB6o *** letsdoitworld.org/news/capturing-mediterranean-cleanup-action-and-mediterranean-lifestyle-malta Capturing the Mediterranean cleanup action and Mediterranean lifestyle in Malta Submitted by Meelika on Sat, 31/05/2014 - 3:34pm By Paul Emmet, team member of Regional Coordinators of Let’s Do It! World Malta is primarily a limestone island in the middle of the Mediterranean sea, created millions of years ago when the movement of the continental plates of Europe and Africa forced up a mass of skeletal remains, shells and rock to form the islands of Malta, Comino, and Gozo. Remains dating back 5500 years BC are still intact in Malta, pointing to one of the earliest civilisations and a temple even older than Britains Stonehenge. Arriving in Malta during early May was like visiting a new country, as I have been a visitor in late summer, when the island is scorched and dry, brown and orange, the heat unbearable and the sea at 25 degrees the only refuge. In spring the contrast was palpable, everything was in bloom, the lush green vegetation awash in honeybees, the air fragrant with the scent of blossom and the skies full of local and more exotic birdlife, migrating from Africa on their way to Northern European climes. Myself and Estonian filmaker Valter Nõmm had arrived as part of “Let’s Do It, Mediterranean!” (LDIM) to document the first coastal and underwater cleanup campaign of Let’s Do It! Malta. *** letsdoitworld.org/news/symptoms-our-plastic-age-what-s-really-so-bad-about-plastics Symptoms of our plastic age - what’s really so bad about the plastics? Submitted by Meelika on Fri, 16/05/2014 - 9:38pm By Kerttu Sarapuu Plastics have proven to be incredibly versatile materials, which play an omnipresent role of our daily lives since 1950s. Every year we use over two hundred million tons of plastics in countless ways, which make them a real triumph in the materials world. In parallel, these specific properties of plastics and their widespread and wasteful use have also introduced severe symptoms to deal with. The plastics are inexpensive, strong, lightweight, durable, long lasting, with high thermal and electrical insulation properties and of course, they are literally everywhere. *** nytimes/2014/05/19/world/americas/memo-to-olympic-sailors-in-rio-dont-touch-the-water.html Note to Olympic Sailors: Don’t Fall in Rio’s Water By SIMON ROMERO and CHRISTOPHER CLAREY MAY 18, 2014 RIO DE JANEIRO — Nico Delle Karth, an Austrian sailor preparing for the 2016 Summer Olympics, said it was the foulest place he had ever trained. Garbage bobbed on the surface, everything from car tires to floating mattresses. The water reeked so badly of sewage that he was afraid to put his feet in it to launch his boat from shore. “I’ve never seen anything like this before,” Mr. Delle Karth said of Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro, where the Olympic sailing and windsurfing events will take place. Even as Brazil scrambles to finish an array of stadiums for the start of the 2014 World Cup soccer tournament in less than a month, it is already coming under scathing criticism for its handling of the next mega-event on its plate, the 2016 Summer Games. *** eco-tsc/news-briefs/are-there-no-european-waters-free-of-litter.html Are There No European Waters Free of Litter? An international team of researchers has, for the first time ever, conducted a wide-ranging survey of litter in European waters and has found traces of waste in every region – from coastal areas all the way down to deep canyons. The results of this survey appeared on 1 May in PLOS ONE, a peer-reviewed online journal. How this litter affects marine life and, ultimately, human beings, is largely unknown to date. In conducting the study, the scientists analyzed 588 video recordings and trawl surveys for signs of litter. Some samples came from shallow coastal waters, others from depths exceeding 4,500 m. It is the first study on litter on the seafloor to cover such a great range of habitats. *** unep.net/wed/take-action/featured-activities/Bali-Island-Campaign-to-Purge-Plastics.asp Bali Island: Campaign to Purge Plastics It has been predicted that around 8 million plastic bags are used everyday in Bali. NGO Komunitas Bali Bersih will do its part in protecting the island by continuing its clean up campaign for WED. For more information, go to: https://facebook/KomunitasBaliBersih *** news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2014/05/promising-solution-to-plastic-pollution/ Promising solution to plastic pollution Harvards Wyss Institute creates bioplastic made from shrimp shells May 5, 2014 Wyss Institute Communications For many people, “plastic” is a one-word analog for environmental disaster. It is made from precious petroleum, after all, and once discarded in landfills and oceans, it takes centuries to degrade. Then came apparent salvation: “bioplastics,” durable substances made from renewable cellulose, a plant-based polysaccharide. But problems remained. For one, the current bioplastics do not fully degrade in the environment. For another, their use is now limited to packaging material or simple containers for food and drink. Now researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering have introduced a new bioplastic isolated from shrimp shells. It’s made from chitosan, a form of chitin — the second-most abundant organic material on Earth. *** usresponserestoration.wordpress/2014/05/30/april-showers-bring-marine-debris-to-pacific-northwest-beaches/ April Showers Bring … Marine Debris to Pacific Northwest Beaches? May 30, 2014 by Office of Response and Restoration This is a post by Amy MacFadyen, oceanographer and modeler in the Office of Response and Restoration’s Emergency Response Division. Over the last few weeks, emergency managers in coastal Washington and Oregon have noted an increase in the marine debris arriving on our beaches. Of particular note, numerous skiffs potentially originating from the Japan tsunami in March 2011 have washed up. Four of these boats arrived in Washington over the Memorial Day weekend alone. This seasonal arrival of marine debris—ranging from small boats and fishing floats to household cleaner bottles and sports balls—on West Coast shores seems to be lasting longer into the spring than last year. As a result, coastal managers dealing with the large volume of debris on their beaches are wondering if the end is in sight. As an oceanographer at NOAA, I have been trying to answer this question by examining how patterns of wind and currents in the North Pacific Ocean change with the seasons and what that means for marine debris showing up on Pacific Northwest beaches. *** marinedebrisblog.wordpress/2014/06/04/dont-mess-with-texas-and-their-shorelines/ Don’t Mess with Texas (and their shorelines!) June 4, 2014 by NOAA Marine Debris Program By: Kim Albins Texans take pride in their coastline and have had an active 2014 clean-up season so far. From Galveston Bay to the southern end of the Padre Island National Seashore; more than 10,000 volunteers dedicated their time to remove TONS of marine debris! *** marinedebrisblog.wordpress/2014/06/03/apple-includes-marine-debris-tracker-in-apps-we-cant-live-without/ Apple Includes Marine Debris Tracker in “Apps We Can’t Live Without” June 3, 2014 by NOAA Marine Debris Program By: Dianna Parker Instagram, Candy Crush, Pinterest, Tumblr… Marine Debris Tracker. These are all “Apps We Can’t Live Without,” according to a new video Apple debuted at the Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday. The Marine Debris Tracker is a smartphone application co-developed by Jenna Jambeck at the University of Georgia and the NOAA Marine Debris Program. It lets you quickly log and report marine debris you find anywhere in the world. Take a look and download it today: marinedebris.engr.uga.edu/ youtu.be/EBSU9KaCYP4 *** marinedebrisblog.wordpress/2014/05/30/the-end-is-in-sight-summer-should-bring-less-debris-to-pacific-nw/ The End is In Sight: Summer Should Bring Less Debris to Pacific NW May 30, 2014 by NOAA Marine Debris Program By: Dianna Parker Our partners in the Pacific Northwest have noticed an increase in marine debris on shorelines this past month, including small vessels that likely washed out to sea during the tsunami in Japan in 2011. Four boats arrived in Washington over the Memorial Day weekend alone. The flurry of activity may seem unusual and sudden, coming after a relatively long stretch where we still saw some debris — but not this much. So what’s the deal? Why are we getting a spike now? Here’s what Amy MacFadyen, oceanographer and modeler in the Office of Response and Restoration’s Emergency Response Division, has to say about possible reasons for the increase: *** marinedebrisblog.wordpress/2014/05/30/first-ever-great-lakes-marine-debris-action-plan-released/ First-Ever Great Lakes Marine Debris Action Plan Released May 30, 2014 by NOAA Marine Debris Program By: Sarah Lowe Last year, the Great Lakes made headlines after researchers found large concentrations of microplastics in them, in some cases in larger quantities than reported in the ocean. While this was news to some people – marine debris in the Great Lakes?! – plastics and other litter, abandoned vessels, and derelict fishing gear have been a long-standing problem for the world’s largest surface freshwater source. The Great Lakes community recognized the marine debris issue and has been working for the past three years to tackle it. Today, on their behalf, the NOAA Marine Debris Program unveils the Great Lakes Land-based Marine Debris Action Plan —the first of its kind for the region. *** marinedebris.noaa.gov/regional-coordination/great-lakes-action-plan Great Lakes Action Plan The Great Lakes Land-based Marine Debris Action Plan provides partners a roadmap to success for addressing marine debris in the region. Plastics and other litter, abandoned vessels, and derelict fishing gear have been a long-standing problem for the Great Lakes, the worlds largest surface freshwater source. In order to address this problem, the Great Lakes community worked together to produce the Great Lakes Land-based Marine Debris Action Plan, the first of its kind for the region. The action plan provides scientists, governments, stakeholders, and decision makers a road map for strategic progress to see that the Great Lakes, its coasts, people, and wildlife are free from the impacts of marine debris. It centers around a mission to combat debris through an increased understanding of the problem, preventative actions, reductions in impacts, education and outreach, and collaborative efforts from diverse groups. marinedebris.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/Lowe%202014%20-%20GL%20Action%20Plan_0.pdf *** marinedebrisblog.wordpress/2014/05/28/youth-help-protect-wildlife-from-fishing-line-entanglement/ Youth Help Protect Wildlife from Fishing Line Entanglement May 28, 2014 by NOAA Marine Debris Program Guest Blogger: Sean Russell, founder and director of the Stow It-Don’t Throw It Project. Monofilament fishing line, when improperly disposed of, poses a serious threat to our coastal wildlife. Fishing line, made of thin, hard-to-see plastic, is difficult to break, lasts a long time in the environment and can entangle dolphins, sea turtles, manatees, and birds. Many states have implemented fishing line recycling programs because of the wildlife entanglements caused by monofilament fishing line. Recycling bins are placed on fishing piers and at marinas to provide anglers a safe place to recycle their used fishing line. The line is periodically collected from the bins by volunteers and sent to recycling facilities that can turn the line into fish habitat structures and plastic products. These programs provide a simple solution to the problem of recycling fishing line when anglers are near an appropriate shore-side receptacle. However, people fishing from boats or kayaks, or those fishing in remote locations, still need a place to safely store their used fishing line until they are able to reach a recycling bin. stowitdontthrowitproject.org/ facebook/stowitdontthrowit https://twitter/StowDontThrow *** marinedebrisblog.wordpress/2014/05/20/tots-track-trash/ Tots Track Trash May 20, 2014 by NOAA Marine Debris Program By: Leah Henry Marine Debris Tracker guru and Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering at the University of Georgia, Jenna Jambeck, applied marine debris citizen science to the youngest age group yet! A small school yard cleanup in Athens, Georgia became a toddler show and tell, with “Look at this!” squealed as each tiny pair of (gloved) hands retrieved candy wrappers, bottles, and pieces of paper and plastic. *** marinedebrisblog.wordpress/2014/05/16/new-hampshires-lobster-trap-community-cleans-up/ New Hampshire’s Lobster Trap Community Cleans up May 16, 2014 by NOAA Marine Debris Program By: Dr. Gabriela Bradt, Guest Blogger For the last 21 years, the New Hampshire Commercial Fishermen’s Association (NHCFA) has organized a comprehensive lobster trap cleanup along the entire New Hampshire (NH) coastline. Due to legal constraints, lobster traps that wash up on NH beaches may not be removed unless that removal is approved by either a New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officer or the trap’s owner. As a result of this policy, few lobster traps are removed throughout the year, causing an accumulation of traps along the coastline over time. *** marinedebrisblog.wordpress/2014/05/14/thousands-of-chesapeake-bay-blue-crabs-lost-each-year-in-derelict-pots/ Thousands of Chesapeake Bay blue crabs lost each year in derelict pots May 14, 2014 by NOAA Marine Debris Program By: Donna Marie Bilkovic, Guest blogger Humans have been fishing the world’s estuaries and oceans for thousands of years. While techniques have changed over time, the availability of synthetic materials, such as plastics, has dramatically improved the efficiency, durability, and lifespan of our fishing gear. An unfortunate byproduct of these improvements, along with intensified fishing, has been an increase in the quantity and persistence of derelict fishing gear in our waters. Derelict fishing gear possesses a long-list of unsavory traits and can last for multiple years. They damage habitat, trap and kill numerous animals including threatened, endangered, and economically important species, and pose safety hazards. *** marinedebrisblog.wordpress/2014/05/09/its-a-trap/ It’s a trap! May 9, 2014 by NOAA Marine Debris Program By: Courtney Arthur Fishing traps, often used to catch crustaceans such as lobsters and crabs, may be abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded in the marine environment. This type of derelict fishing gear is important to consider due to its widespread nature, persistence for long periods of time, and impacts that include “ghost fishing” and damage to sensitive marine habitats. Since these traps sit on the ocean floor, they are often forgotten about as a type of marine debris. *** ndr.de/ratgeber/verbraucher/Mikroplastik-in-Mineralwasser-und-Bier,mikroplastik134.html Sendedatum: 02.06.2014 20:15 Uhr Mikroplastik in Mineralwasser und Bier von Heike Dittmers Mineralwasser und Biere sind teilweise mit mikroskopisch kleinen Fasern aus Plastik verunreinigt. Nach Recherchen von Markt besteht der Verdacht, dass diese Fasern von Textilien aus sogenanntem Fleece-Material stammen können. Die Plastikfasern können beim Waschen über das Abwasser in die Umwelt gelangen. Dort verteilen sie sich und können vermutlich im Zusammenhang mit der Produktion in die Getränke gelangen. Bei den analysierten Mineralwassern und Bieren handelt es sich um die in Deutschland meistverkauften Marken. Alle enthielten Mikroplastik. *** ndr.de/fernsehen/sendungen/45_min/rueckschau/Mikroplastik-Tickende-Zeitbombe-aus-dem-Meer,mikroplastik133.html Stand: 12.05.2014 09:40 Uhr Mikroplastik: Tickende Zeitbombe aus dem Meer Oft ist Plastikmüll so klein, dass man ihn nur unter dem Mikroskop erkennen kann. Aus dem Meer breitet sich das sogenannte Mikroplastik über die Nahrungskette und durch die Luft bis zum Menschen aus. Wissenschaftler sind alarmiert: Wir können davon ausgehen, dass Mikroplastik schon überall in der Atmosphäre zu finden ist, sagt der emeritierte Professor Gerd Liebezeit von der Carl-von-Ossietzky-Universität in Oldenburg. Der Experte für Chemie und Biologie des Meeres hat mikroskopisch kleine Plastikkugeln bereits in Honig und Regenwasser nachgewiesen. *** publico.pt/ciencia/noticia/algumas-reflexoes-sobre-o-dia-do-ambiente-1638669 Algumas reflexões sobre o Dia do Ambiente Maria Amélia Martins-Loução 05/06/2014 - 02:01 Devíamos olhar o planeta como se tratasse de uma ilha ameaçada pela subida da água do mar. 3. Associativismo. A recém-criada Associação Portuguesa de Lixo Marinho, APLM, procura apoiar uma das grandes preocupações das Nações Unidas sobre o impacto dos lixos marinhos nos ecossistemas. Estima-se que existam 100 milhões de toneladas de plástico flutuando nos mares e oceanos que afectam os ecossistemas e a sua sustentabilidade. Este movimento associativo nasceu no seio da academia da Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, em resultado da investigação desenvolvida no âmbito de dois projectos europeus, que permitiram avaliar e testar, cientificamente, o impacto dos lixos marinhos nos habitats marinho, costeiro, estuarino e águas interiores. A APLM pretende contribuir de forma activa para a sensibilização, consciencialização e co-responsabilização da sociedade para valores de consumo sustentável. Através da divulgação científica, debates e acções formativas, pretende fomentar a cidadania com práticas de solidariedade e preservação ambiental. *** dn.pt/inicio/ciencia/interior.aspx?content_id=3903299 CAMPANHA DE ALERTA Microplásticos poluidores em produtos de higiene e cosmética por Lusa, texto publicado por Paula Mourato18 maio 2014 Uma campanha internacional pede aos consumidores para evitarem produtos de higiene pessoal e cosméticos com microesferas plásticas, elementos que vão parar ao mar e acabam engolidos pelos animais, por engano, disse hoje a coordenadora da iniciativa em Portugal. Combata as Microesferas (Beat the Microbead em inglês) é uma iniciativa de duas organizações não governamentais holandesas, a que se juntou a Associação Portuguesa de Lixo Marinho (APLM) para alertar os portugueses para as consequências nefastas da utilização destes produtos no ambiente. *** revistapesquisa.fapesp.br/2014/05/15/lixo-quase-invisivel-nas-praias/ Lixo quase invisível nas praias Edição 219 - Maio de 2014 © DANILO BALTHAZAR SILVA / IO-USP A quantidade de grânulos plásticos, os chamados pellets, com diâmetro de 3 a 5 milímetros, misturados com a areia das praias, parece ser maior que a imaginada. Apenas 10% dos pellets encontram-se à superfície da areia, e a maior parte se esconde a uma profundidade de até dois metros, de acordo com um levantamento realizado em Santos e São Vicente, cidades do litoral sul do estado de São Paulo. “Queríamos ver até que profundidade os pellets chegavam”, diz o biólogo Alexander Turra, professor do Instituto de Oceanografia da Universidade de São Paulo (IO-USP) e coordenador do estudo (Scientific Reports, 27 de março). “Cavamos, cavamos e continuávamos achando os grânulos plásticos.” Com sua equipe, Turra estimou em 15 toneladas a quantidade de pellets acumulada na areia da área amostrada, com cerca de sete quilômetros de extensão. Esse material deve provir de empresas produtoras e usuárias desse tipo de plástico ou da perda dos pellets durante o transporte e armazenamento em contêineres. Em conjunto com o Instituto Plastivida, Turra está elaborando um manual de procedimentos para as empresas poderem reduzir a perda de pellets. “Não é possível retirar os pellets da praia, mas podemos impedir a entrada de mais”, propõe o pesquisador do IO. revistapesquisa.fapesp.br/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/012-015_Tecnociencia_21914.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.
Posted on: Thu, 05 Jun 2014 19:31:45 +0000