Part 1 of our Pollution IS A PROBLEM SERIES: THE Marine Debris Dilemma*

Learn about NOAA's marine debris program by clicking on the image. Photo: NOAA

Have you ever found trash on the beach or floating in the saltmarsh? This is called marine debris. Marine debris falls into 3 categories:

1.  litter (improperly disposed of wastes that can be anything from paper to tires to diapers) 
2. abandoned or lost fishing gear (nets, fishing line, crab pots, etc.)
3. abandoned boats

Although much of the marine debris comes from boaters and others on the water, some of it comes from areas far inland and travels by rivers through our watersheds to our coastal areas.

What are your thoughts and feelings when you see debris?

Learn more about our pollution problem by checking back later this week!

​​*Information taken from The Educator’s Guide to Marine Debris: Southeast Coast and Gulf Coast (COSEE-SE and SC Sea Grant Consortium)

Written by educator Sue Morrison