Global Garbage Newsletter for September 1, 2014 Marine litter (marine debris) and plastic pollution *** A.O. Debrot, E. Vinke, G. van der Wende, A. Hylkema, J.K. Reed, Deepwater marine litter densities and composition from submersible video-transects around the ABC-islands, Dutch Caribbean, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Available online 28 August 2014, ISSN 0025-326X, dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.08.016. (sciencedirect/science/article/pii/S0025326X14005463) Abstract: Baseline data on anthropogenic seafloor debris contamination in the year 2000 is provided for 24 submersible video transects at depths of 80–900 m, off the Dutch ABC-islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao), in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. In total, 202 objects were documented from a combined 21,184 m of transect, ranging from sandy lower island-slope to rocky upper island-slope habitat. Debris densities differed significantly with depth. Highest debris accumulation (0.459 items 100 m−2 or 4590 items per km2) occurred at depths of 300–600 m on more shallow-sloping (20–30°) sand and silt bottoms. The overall average debris density was 0.27 objects per 100 m2 (or 2700 items per km2), which is an order of magnitude higher than most other deepwater debris studies. What we describe may be representative for other small, populated, steep volcanic Caribbean islands. Food and beverage-related items were the single largest usage category identified (44% of objects; mostly glass beverage bottles). Keywords: Caribbean; Seafloor; Marine; Deepwater; Debris; Pollution *** Marta Llorca, Marinella Farré, Hrissi K. Karapanagioti, Damià Barceló, Levels and fate of perfluoroalkyl substances in beached plastic pellets and sediments collected from Greece, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Available online 27 August 2014, ISSN 0025-326X, dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.07.036. (sciencedirect/science/article/pii/S0025326X14004792) Abstract: Plastic debris damages marine wildlife and ecosystems becoming an important source of marine pollution. In addition, they can sorb, concentrate and stabilise contaminants acting as toxic carriers to the marine food web. In this context, the presence of 18 perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in plastic pellets (n = 5) and beach sediment (n = 9) samples widely distributed around Greek coastal areas was assessed. The results, mainly, showed the sorption of PFASs onto pellet surface from surrounding water with concentrations from method limit of quantification to 115 ng/kg for C5, C7, C8 and C10 carboxylic acids and C8 sulfonate acid. A similar pattern was found by comparing plastic pellets and sediment for the same sampling locations that could indicate a common origin of contamination in both types of samples. However, since the number of analysed samples is limited, a more comprehensive study with a higher number of samples should be performed in future research. Keywords: Plastic pellets; Beach sediments; Perfluoroalkyl substances 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. *** Gösta Hoffmann, Klaus Reicherter, Reconstructing Anthropocene extreme flood events by using litter deposits, Global and Planetary Change, Volume 122, November 2014, Pages 23-28, ISSN 0921-8181, dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2014.07.012. (sciencedirect/science/article/pii/S0921818114001453) Abstract: Coastal areas are densely populated and therefore vulnerable to the impact of flooding events induced by tsunami waves or storm surges. The flood risk has increased due to global climate change and an accelerated sea-level rise as observed during the most recent geological times (the Anthropocene). At the same time a concentration of settlements along the worlds coastlines is observed. Therefore, knowledge of maximum flooding levels during high-energy events is essential to improve the assessment of risk. We utilise wrack lines composed of litter as in situ physical marks made up of durable, solid matter of various compositions to delineate the maximum flooding level. These deposits may enclose information on production dates, used to precisely reconstruct the timing of the flooding. This approach allows an ultra-high resolution dating. We demonstrate the application of this efficient, fast and cheap method for the coastline of Oman bordering the Arabian Sea (Northern Indian Ocean). The area was recently affected by devastating tropical cyclones as well as tsunamis. Keywords: tropical cyclone; tsunami; inundation modelling; risk assessment; coastal vulnerability; technofossil; ultra-high resolution dating *** https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-13224 Call for Reviewers of the World Ocean Assessment A Notice by the State Department on 06/06/2014 ACTION Notice Of A Certification. SUMMARY The U.S. Department of State, in coordination with the National Ocean Council, requests expert review of the draft World Ocean Assessment. The United Nations (UN) has embarked on a regular process for global reporting on, and assessment of, the state of the marine environment, including socioeconomic aspects, the product of which is called the World Ocean Assessment (WOA). The projected completion date for the first WOA is December 2014. Subsequent WOAs are expected to be generated every five years in order to document trends in the state of the marine environment. The WOA includes more than fifty subjects grouped within four main themes: marine environment and understanding of the oceans role in the global integrated Earth system; food security and food safety; human activities that influence the ocean or are influenced by the ocean; and marine biological diversity. A scientific and technical summary will integrate content to show linkages through interdisciplinary subjects such as human impacts, ecosystem services, and habitats. More information regarding the evolution and methodology of the WOA can be found at worldoceanassessment.org. This fall, UN Member States will have an opportunity to review the draft WOA, which is expected to be comprised of 50 chapters (approximately 15 pages each) and a 70-page technical summary; the outline illustrates the very wide range of expertise needed for such review. The Department of State invites experts in relevant fields of expertise to participate in the U.S. Government review of the draft WOA. Beginning on 1 August 2014, experts may register to review the draft WOA at review.globalchange.gov, a Web-based review and comment system. Registered experts will have access to the draft WOA on 2 September 2014 and will have until midnight 30 September 2014 to submit their review comments using the Web-based review and comment system. Detailed instructions for review and submission of comments are available at review.globalchange.gov. A Review Coordination Team comprised of Federal scientists and program managers will develop a consolidated U.S. Government review submission. Only comments received via the Web-based review and comment system within the comment period will be considered by the Review Coordination Team for inclusion in the U.S. Government review submission. This certification will be published in the Federal Register. Dated: June 2, 2014. Evan T. Bloom, Director, Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs, U.S. Department of State. gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-06-06/pdf/2014-13224.pdf review.globalchange.gov/ *** worldoceanassessment.org/ worldoceanassessment.org/?page_id=14 REPORT OUTLINE Outline for the World Ocean Assessment I (the first report of the Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, including Socio-economic Aspects) A guide for authors contributing to the World Ocean Assessment may be found here. un.org/depts/los/global_reporting/Outline_of_the_First_Global_Integrated_Marine_Assessment.pdf Chapter 25 Marine debris 25.A. The multiple causes of marine debris, including lack of controls on landbased disposal of waste, lack of management of beach litter and ship-generated litter, and the scale and distribution of the problem. 25.B. Approaches to combating marine debris — range of application — cases where progress has been made. 25.C. Identify gaps in capacity to control marine debris and to assess the environmental, social and economic aspects of marine debris. *** ospar.org/v_meetings/browse.asp?menu=00050500000000_000000_000000 WS-RAP 9 October 2014 - 9 October 2014 Workshop on the Implementation of the OSPAR Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter Host country: The Netherlands Venue: The Hague Chairman: Stefanie Werner (DE) and Lex Oosterbaan (NL) *** ospar.org/v_meetings/browse.asp?menu=00050500000000_000000_000000 ICG-ML 2014 11 November 2014 - 12 November 2014 12th Meeting of the Intersessional Correspondence Group on Marine Litter (ICG-ML) Host country: Spain Venue: Vigo Chairman: Rick Nickerson *** helcom.fi/news/Pages/How-to-get-rid-of-litter-in-Baltic-shores-and-waters.aspx HOW TO GET RID OF LITTER IN BALTIC SHORES AND WATERS Category: Press release 27/05/2014 10:52 The first HELCOM marine litter workshop begins today by discussing on the best way forward to develop Regional Action Plan for the Baltic, as litter dominated by plastics of all sizes is a rapidly growing concern at sea and shores alike. The Regional Action Plan on marine litter will fulfil the 2013 HELCOM Ministerial commitment, expecting adoption in 2015, with the aim of achieving a significant reduction of marine litter by 2025 and to prevent harm to the coastal and marine environment. Consumer behaviour is considered as the most important reason for marine litter in the Baltic Sea, indicate recent studies by e.g. by the Marlin Project and ARCADIS. Moreover, as much as 48 per cent of marine litter originates from household‐related waste, including sanitary waste, while waste generated by recreational or tourism activities would add up to 33 per cent. The urgent need of a comprehensive action plan to address the issue is further supported by the Marlin study results stating that, in average, close to 240 items of litter were detected per every 100 meters in urban beaches of Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Sweden. Plastic never biodegrades, but with the sunlight it splits into smaller pieces – also into tiny microplastics that are ingested by a few marine species thus entering the food chain. *** portal.helcom.fi:81/meetings/MARINE%20LITTER%201-2014-107 First HELCOM Workshop on Regional Action Plan for Marine Litter *** portal.helcom.fi:81/meetings/MARINE%20LITTER%202-2014-144 Second HELCOM Workshop on Regional Action Plan for Marine Litter *** projectmarlin.eu/sa/node.asp?node=3120 Results For the very first time, a comprehensive and comparable picture of litter in the Baltic Sea is presented with the results of Baltic Marine Litter project. The Baltic Marine Litter project MARLIN has been monitoring litter at 23 beaches in Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Latvia during two years. The results of project MARLIN shows that litter in the Baltic Sea mostly originates from visitors at the beaches or ends up at the beach from nearby cities. The amount of litter is higher at urban beaches with a lot of visitors (236,6 items per 100 m) than at rural beaches (75,5 items per 100 m). The litter found on urban beaches was highly related to our take away-lifestyle; bottle caps, plastic bags, plastic food containers, wrappers and plastic cutlery were common items. On rural beaches, more “industrial” litter such as plastic ropes and construction materials were found. The findings indicate that litter generated from sea-based sources such as shipping does not end up on shores of the Baltic Sea to the same extent as for example in the North East Atlantic Area. 56% of the litter is plastic and the most common litter item over all is “plastic, other” which means unidentified pieces of plastic or small plastic items that don’t fit in any other category. When all beach types are combined, “plastic other” counts for 25,3% of all litter found. As millions of tones of waste are dumped into the world’s oceans each year, project MARLIN can provide a good starting point for future national and regional strategies in the Baltic Sea such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and a HELCOM regional action plan that is supposed to be ready by 2015. A top 5 list of litter items found on the shores of the Baltic Sea • Different kinds of unidentified pieces of plastics • Glass and ceramics fragments • Plastic bottle caps and lids • Plastic bags • Foamed plastic (packaging and insulation) hsr.se/sites/default/files/marlin-baltic-marine-litter-report.pdf FINAL REPORT OF BALTIC MARINE LITTER PROJECT MARLIN - LITTER MONITORING AND RAISING AWARENESS 2011-2013 *** cleansea-project.eu/drupal/?q=en/node/206 CleanSea findings 5.1. Institutional and legal gaps and barriers to prevent reduce and clean up marine litter You can download here the fact sheet gathering main findings of this CleanSea task. cleansea-project.eu/drupal/sites/default/files/project%20results/D5.1factsheet_0.pdf *** cleansea-project.eu/drupal/?q=en/EUAction In the EU EU Policy The Commission published a Commission Staff Working Document with an overview of relevant EU legislation, policies and strategies that touch on this problem. The document also includes an indication of on-going and future initiatives in this area. Environment is a key component of the Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (Marine Directive), adopted in 2008. The main goal of the Marine Directive is to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) of all marine waters of the European Union by 2020. The decision under Article 9(3) MSFD on criteria of good environmental status addresses marine litter in descriptor 10 and aims at achieving that Properties and quantities of marine litter do not cause harm to the coastal and marine environment. The success of the Marine Directive depends largely on the effective integration of marine environmental concerns in EU legislation and policies. The Marine Directive aims to achieve this by providing a long-term policy view of the seas and enhanced cooperation in marine regions and internationally. As a follow up to the Commission Decision on criteria and methodological standards on good environmental status (GES) of marine waters (Commission Decision 2010/477/EU), the Marine Directors requested the Directorate-General for the Environment (DG ENV) in 2010 to establish a technical subgroup under the Working Group on GES (WG GES) in relation to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive 2008/56/EC (MSFD) for further development of Descriptor 10 Marine Litter. In 2011 the TSG compiled a report with recommendations regarding Descriptor 10 (Marine Litter). Finally, in 2013 the TSG produced A guidance document within the Common Implementation Strategy for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive MSFD Technical Subgroup on Marine Litter 2013. Guidance on Monitoring of Marine Litter in European Seas Projects The European Commission commissioned 3 Pilot Projects (studies) on marine litter. As the studies are closely linked, a common chapter has been developed, integrating the respective results. The results of the studies are now available here: • Pilot Project Study of the largest loopholes within the flow of packaging material • Pilot Project Feasibility Study of introducing instruments to prevent littering • Pilot Project Case studies on the plastic cycle and its loopholes in the four European regional seas areas The European Commission is currently running a Pilot Project Removal of marine litter from Europes four regional seas (MARELITT). Besides CleanSea, other EU funded projects related to marine litter are: FP7 MARLISCO. Marine Litter in European Seas - Social Awareness and Co-Responsibility FP7 KnowSeas. Knowledge-based Sustainable Management for Europes Seas FP7 PERSEUS. Policy-oriented marine Environmental Research for the Southern European Seas FP7 DEVOTES. DEVelopment Of innovative Tools for understanding marine biodiversity and assessing good Environmental Status FP7 MedSeA. European Mediterranean Sea Acidification in a changing climate FP7 BioClean. Biotechnological solutions for the degradation of synthetic polymeric materials FP7 ECSAFESEAFOOD. Priority environmental contaminants in seafood: safety assessment, impact and public perception FP7 WASTEKIT. Waste management focusing on knowledge and integration to create transnational economic development FP7 MERMAID. Marine Environmental targets linked to Regional Management schemes based on Indicators Developed for the Mediterranean Interreg MICRO. MicroPlastics Interreg MARLIN. Baltic Marine Litter Project ENPI-CBC MED MED-JELLYRISK. Integrated monitoring of jellyfish outbreaks under anthropogenic and climatic impacts in the Mediterranean sea: trophic and socio-economic risks Furthermore, the European Commission published the brochure The Ocean of Tomorrow Projects (2010-2013). Joint Research Forces to Meet Challenges in Ocean Management, where CleanSea and other FP7 projects are described. More information *Source: DG Environment, EC. ec.europa.eu/environment/marine/pdf/Integration%20of%20results%20from%20three%20Marine%20Litter%20Studies.pdf ec.europa.eu/environment/marine/pdf/Bipro/Bipro.zip ec.europa.eu/environment/marine/pdf/RPA_study.zip ec.europa.eu/environment/marine/pdf/Arcadis/Arcadis.zip *** ec.europa.eu/environment/marine/good-environmental-status/descriptor-10/index_en.htm Descriptor 10: Marine Litter *** sd20.senate.ca.gov/news/2014-08-28-state-assembly-approves-plastic-bag-ban STATE ASSEMBLY APPROVES PLASTIC BAG BAN August 28, 2014 Bill by Senators Padilla, De Leon & Lara Would Phase Out Single-Use Plastic Bags in California Sacramento – The State Assembly today approved SB 270 by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima), Senator Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) and Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Huntington Park/Long Beach). The bill would phase out single-use plastic bags in California grocery stores, convenience stores, liquor stores and pharmacies. The bill now goes to the State Senate for consideration. A coalition of environmental, labor, business groups and local governments are supporting SB 270 (Padilla, De Leon, Lara), including Californians Against Waste, Environment California, Heal the Bay, Clean Seas Coalition, California League of Conservation Voters, Coastkeepers, Surfrider, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Western States Council, California Grocers Association, and the California Retailers Association. “This is a huge step forward. Single-use plastic bags not only litter our beaches, but also our mountains, our deserts, and our rivers, streams and lakes. SB 270 strikes the right balance. It will protect the environment and it will protect California jobs as the state transitions to reusable bags,” said Senator Alex Padilla. “A throw-away society is not sustainable. With SB 270 we have an opportunity to greatly reduce the flow of billions of single-use plastic bags that are discarded throughout our state. This is good for California and reflects our values as a state that cares about the environment, sea life and wildlife,” Padilla added. *** leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140SB270 SB-270 Solid waste: single-use carryout bags. (2013-2014) *** cawrecycles.org/whats_new/recycling_news/Aug29_SB270pr Submitted by Recycling News on August 29, 2014 - 23:41. For Immediate Release Contact: Mark Murray, Executive Director (916) 443-5422 Sacramento – Legislators in California sent a clear message to the plastics industry tonight when the State Senate passed SB 270 with a 22-15 vote to ban single-use plastic grocery bags. Environmental groups and local government advocates have overcome fierce lobbying by single-use bag manufacturers, intensified in the last few months of session, to reach this point. Senate Bill 270 by Senators Padilla, de León and Lara, passed off the California State Assembly Floor yesterday on a 45-31 vote, after falling three votes short of passage earlier this week. The bill now advances to the Governor’s desk for a signature. Governor Brown has until the end of September 30th to take action. The California State Legislature is the first in the nation to approve a plastic bag ban, and environmental leaders expressed elation after a decade-long fight over the issue. *** latimes/opinion/readersreact/la-le-more-pushback-over-plastic-bags-and-bans-20140829-story.html More pushback over plastic bags and bans latimes/local/politics/la-me-legislature-20140830-story.html Lawmakers OK water plan, pass statewide single-use plastic bag ban latimes/local/politics/la-plastic-bag-ban-video-embeddedvideo.html Plastic bag ban passes California Assembly latimes/local/political/la-me-pc-lawmakers-governor-ban-plastic-bags-20140828-story.html California lawmakers send governor a ban on single-use plastic bags latimes/opinion/readersreact/la-le-readers-vs-readers-on-michael-brown-plastic-bags-growing-rice-in-california-and-seaworld-20140829-story.html Readers vs. readers on Michael Brown, plastic bags, growing rice in California and SeaWorld latimes/opinion/readersreact/la-le-plastic-bag-ban-20140826-story.html To solve, or not to solve, the plastic bag problem latimes/opinion/editorials/la-ed-plastic-bags-20140826-story.html Banning the plastic bag shouldnt be this hard latimes/local/political/la-me-pc-plastic-bag-ban-20140825-story.html Plastic bag ban falls short in California Assembly latimes/local/politics/la-me-cap-plastic-bags-20140825-column.html Charging for paper bags isnt justified *** ecowatch/2014/08/26/ban-plastic-microbeads-california/ Industry Lobby Tries to Block Bill That Would Protect U.S. Waters from Plastic Microbeads Anastasia Pantsios | August 26, 2014 9:02 am A bill working its way through the California legislature to ban plastic microbeads from cosmetics and other products made and sold in the state has encountered a snag. The bill, AB 1699, authored by 5 Gyres Institute and sponsored by Rep. Richard Bloom of Santa Monica, sailed through the other chamber of the legislature, the Assembly, in May. That action came a little less than a month before Illinois enacted such a ban in June becoming the first state to do so. *** leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140AB1699 Date Action 08/28/14 Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Jackson. *** nytimes/2014/08/26/opinion/choking-the-oceans-with-plastic.html The Opinion Pages | OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR Choking the Oceans With Plastic By CHARLES J. MOORE AUG. 25, 2014 LOS ANGELES — The world is awash in plastic. It’s in our cars and our carpets, we wrap it around the food we eat and virtually every other product we consume; it has become a key lubricant of globalization — but it’s choking our future in ways that most of us are barely aware. I have just returned with a team of scientists from six weeks at sea conducting research in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch — one of five major garbage patches drifting in the oceans north and south of the Equator at the latitude of our great terrestrial deserts. Although it was my 10th voyage to the area, I was utterly shocked to see the enormous increase in the quantity of plastic waste since my last trip in 2009. Plastics of every description, from toothbrushes to tires to unidentifiable fragments too numerous to count floated past our marine research vessel Alguita for hundreds of miles without end. We even came upon a floating island bolstered by dozens of plastic buoys used in oyster aquaculture that had solid areas you could walk on. Plastics are now one of the most common pollutants of ocean waters worldwide. Pushed by winds, tides and currents, plastic particles form with other debris into large swirling glutinous accumulation zones, known to oceanographers as gyres, which comprise as much as 40 percent of the planet’s ocean surface — roughly 25 percent of the entire earth. *** blog.oceanconservancy.org/2014/08/27/talking-trash-and-taking-action/ Talking Trash and Taking Action Posted On August 27, 2014 by Guest Blogger This post was written by Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas Education and Outreach Fellow, Emily Parker. Emily recently graduated from Elon University with a major in Environmental Studies. She joined the Trash Free Seas team as in intern earlier this year to assist in the development and distribution of the Talking Trash & Taking Action program and is now working to help educate the public on the issue of marine debris as a Fellow. While not at Ocean Conservancy, you can find her hunting down the best food in Washington, D.C. and escaping to saltwater and sand whenever she can. No matter what the cause, empowering students and youth to make a difference in the world through volunteerism always inspires me. It has always been said that children are the future, and this couldn’t be truer when it comes to ocean conservation. They are the next generation of ocean stewards, and there is no better way to ignite passion than to engage students in the ocean problems of today. *** blog.oceanconservancy.org/2014/08/26/plastics-are-a-whale-of-a-problem-for-our-ocean/ Plastics Are a Whale of a Problem for Our Ocean Posted On August 26, 2014 by Nick Mallos Sei whales are majestic animals and I’ve had the great fortune of witnessing their grace and splendor in the open ocean. Last week, however, a 45-foot sei whale washed up on the shores of the Elizabeth River in Virginia. An 11-foot bruise above her left jaw and two fractured vertebrae led the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Team to believe she was killed by blunt force trauma following a collision with a ship. However, a necropsy revealed that the whale also had “a large sharp piece of rigid, black plastic” roughly the size of a standard index card lodged in her stomach. In the days leading up to her death, the Virginia Aquarium team said that she “was thin and its movements were not indicative of a healthy whale.” They believe that the plastic in the whale’s stomach prevented her from feeding normally. This likely weakened the whale and could explain why she swam up the Elizabeth River. *** news.sciencemag.org/environment/2014/08/how-old-litter-beach How old is that litter on the beach? By Ian Randall 18 August 2014 5:00 pm One person’s trash is another person’s science. That’s the idea behind new research that uses litter left behind by extreme floods to help plan for similar hazards in the future. Once dumped into the environment, litter is subject to natural transportation processes and typically ends up in the sea, forming gyres of marine debris. While most of it ultimately sinks to the sea floor, a significant portion is washed up onshore, adding to the “wrack lines” of driftwood, kelp, and other natural flotsam deposited at high-tide marks. Extreme flooding events—such as those caused by tsunamis or storm surges—can also leave behind wrack lines. Now, researchers have proposed that these wrack lines could be used to identify past floods and map out their impact, thereby providing information on flooding in remote regions for which significant data are not usually available. Litter has an advantage over natural flotsam for this purpose, because trash often tells you how old it is: Just look for the production or expiration dates on discarded packaging. Because wrack lines containing trash must have formed after the most recent date found on the litter, scientists realized they could use that information to roughly date the flood that caused a particular wrack line. To demonstrate their idea, the researchers used GPS to map out litter deposits along the coastline near the city of Ras al Hadd in eastern Oman—a region vulnerable to both tsunamis and cyclone-induced storm surges. They identified two extensive wrack lines of litter (one of which is pictured) located as far as 900 meters inland. The youngest trash in each of the wrack lines was stamped with production dates of 9 January 2007 and 31 March 2010, respectively. That means the wrack lines likely originated in the floods caused by cyclones Gonu and Phet, which occurred slightly later in those same years, the researchers say. By knowing the maximum water level of past flooding episodes within a particular region—and how often floods occur—scientists can better predict the extent and impact of future floods, informing the development of worst-case scenarios, evacuation plans, and possible relief efforts. *** healthyseas.org/dutch-fishermen-in-den-oever-start-collecting-fishing-nets-for-healthy-seas/ Dutch fishermen in Den Oever start collecting fishing nets for Healthy Seas 26 August 2014 From next week onwards, the 40 fishing boats based at the port of Den Oever in The Netherlands will start to collect their waste fishing nets for Healthy Seas. This is one of the results of the cooperation between municipality, harbour personnel and Healthy Seas. On Monday 1st of September a contract is co-signed by the alderman of the municipality Hollands Kroon, confirming the intention to work together towards a sustainable waste disposal and cleaner seas. *** healthyseas.org/new-infidel-clean-up-with-special-guest/ New Infidel clean up with special guest 25 August 2014 Two years ago, our partner LAUE (Los Angeles Underwater Explorer) started the project Infidel clean up. The goal was to remove all the nets which cover the wreck and regularly trap marine life (seals, sea lions, even birds). The wreck seats under 150ft of water, which makes the cleaning work challenging and requires lots of caution. Strong dive teams and very rigorous process. After many dives, the wreck starts to look much better now, and new marine life is elected it as new home: lobsters, nudibranchs, wolf eel, and so on. *** vimeo/104283069 LAUE: Ghost net cleanup and Great White Shark encounter! Full day report. from Ghost Fishing Monday, August 25, 2014 4:58 AM Los Angeles Underwater Explorers went back to the Infidel wreck again to remove ghost nets. A lot of nets was removed, so mission #1 was very successful. Mission #2 was to identify new marine life around the wreck. Indeed, with much less net, new critters are coming to make the wreck their new house. More and more nudibranches, crabs and lobsters, wolf eel and they had (very) close encounter with a Great White Shark. How cool is that? Second video of the Infidel clean-up day, Aug, 23rd. But here showing the full day with the net (a lot) removal vimeo/ghostfishing *** healthyseas.org/local-italian-fishermen-and-diving-community-start-collecting-fishing-nets-for-healthy-seas/ Local Italian fishermen and diving community start collecting fishing nets for Healthy Seas 24 July 2014 From next week onwards, the more than 250 fishing boats based at the port of Ancona in Italy will start to collect their waste fishing nets for Healthy Seas. This is one of the results of the successful meeting that took place in Ancona last Wednesday 23 July. Following the agreements made earlier this month, a collection point for these fishing nets has been set up in Ancona harbour as well. *** healthyseas.org/ghost-net-removal-on-panago-shipwreck/ Ghost net removal on Panago shipwreck 21 July 2014 Saturday 19 July, our diving team cleaned up the wreck of the Panago, located in the Dutch North Sea. Approximately 800 kilograms of lost fishing gear was removed from the shipwreck. *** garbageguts.net/book.php About the Book Aria the Albatross has a problem: She and her seabird friends are barfing up our discarded garbage. Determined to find out why, she sets out on a long-distance flight across the Pacific Ocean. On her journey, she meets other wildlife troubled by trash. Sea Turtle is choking on a plastic bag, Monk Seal is trapped in a strapping band, and Humpback Whale is tangled in ghost fishing nets. Aria masters both wind and waves, seeking the causes of marine debris and witnessing its tragic effects. Humans, she learns, are both the culprits and the solution. Learn through the eyes of an albatross as you follow Aria’s adventure while she finds courage and hope amid an ocean of garbage. Aria is the witness to our dirty deeds, and her interactions with other wildlife mirror our own emotions when confronted with the enormity of our collective crimes: her own shock, the sadness of Sea Turtle, the anger of Monk Seal, and the exhaustion and resignation of Humpback Whale. The causes and effects of our pollution in oceans are revealed as a compelling message that is not only delightfully illustrated but also poetically memorable. When the result of our collective consumerism ends up fouling some of the most elegant, endangered, and remote-living of wildlife, our sense of responsibility to the oceans and its creatures must be questioned. Garbage Guts was inspired by Dr Heidi Auman’s research on the effects of marine debris on Midway Atoll’s Laysan albatross. *** sergioizquierdo/index.php/galeriasgalleries/desembocadura-del-rio-motagua-motagua-rivers-mounth Desembocadura del Río Motagua - Motagua rivers mounth *** sea.edu/sea_news/press_release/microplastics_in_ocean_causing_rising_concern_amongst_leading_scientists Microplastics in ocean causing rising concern amongst leading scientists (Woods Hole, Mass- July 18, 2014) Microplastics – microscopic particles of plastic debris – are of increasing concern because of their widespread presence in the oceans and the potential physical and toxicological risks they pose to organisms. This is the view of two of the world’s most eminent authorities on the subject, Professor Kara Lavender Law, of Sea Education Association (Woods Hole, MA), and Professor Richard Thompson of Plymouth University (UK). In an article published today in the journal Science, the two scientists have called for urgent action to “turn off the tap” and divert plastic waste away from the marine environment. sciencemag.org/content/345/6193/144.summary sciencemag.org/content/345/6193/144/suppl/DC1 *** 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
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