What is marine debris?

Marine debris is any man made, solid material, generally trash, that has entered a waterway.  Marine debris is not just a coastal problem; it affects every major water system in the world.  Marine debris is one of the world’s most pervasive pollution problems and can be harmful to the health and safety of everyone.


How does it get there?

Recreational activities provide for the majority of marine debris.  Often times marine debris enters the waterway unintentionally, when an object is properly disposed of but the wind or rain carries it out again.  However every year thousands of boaters, fisherman and vacationers  leave behind trash that become marine debris. Some debris is the result of illegal dumping.. if you see someone dumping waste in a waterway, please call 911 to report.


How does marine debris affect our waterways?

Marine debris affects the East Fork Little Miami Watershed in many ways.  Animals, birds, fish and reptiles can be wounded, strangled, or unable to swim if they become entangled in marine debris.  Marine debris clogs and pollutes natural habitats which reduces native species populations. A concern to boaters is that materials floating in the water like netting, plastics, ropes, cables can get tangled in boat propellers and clog intakes.


What can I do to prevent marine debris from entering the East  Fork Watershed?

Boaters:

  • Practice “Pack it in, pack it out” Everything that is not eaten should be returned to shore for disposal.
  • Secure all trash on board with a sealable container and dispose of it on shore.
  • When trash falls overboard, ALWAYS go back and pick it up.
  • When fueling, don’t top tanks and always mop up fuel spills.
  • Use biodegradable products when in or on the water.
  • ALWAYS pump out on shore if you have a holding tank. NEVER dump human waste into waterways.
  • Recycle used motor oil and filers. Your local gas station should have facilities for recycling these materials.
  • Keep your boat’s engine well tuned for fuel efficiency. Don’t allow your motor to leak gas or oil into the water.


Fisherman:

  • Collect and save any unusable fishing equipment including those left behind by others.
  • Try to recycle all unused fishing line.
  • Freeze and then re-use fish parts as bait on your next fishing trip.
  • ALWAYS use fish cleaning stations.
  • Avoid releasing bait into the water, this can introduce foreign species into the environment.
  • Use lead-free weights and biodegradable products
  • Avoid leaving behind lures.


Smokers:

  • Use an ash tray and always bring butts ashore. Cigarette waste alone contributes over 40% of marine debris


What happens to it all?

Another growing concern is that plastic materials, accumulating in the waterways over decades, are breaking down into microscopic particles that are now entering our water supplies.


Length of time to decompose:

  • Cotton rope – 1 year
  • Untreated plywood – 1-3 years
  • Plastic bag – 10-20 years
  • Commercial netting – 30-40 years
  • Foam Plastic Buoy – 80 years
  • Aluminum Can – 80-200 years
  • Plastic Bottle – 450 years
  • Monofilament Fishing – 600 years
  • Glass Bottle – 1 million years

A single one-liter soda bottle could break down into enough fragments to put one fragment on every mile of beach in the entire world.


What should I do if I see marine debris in my watershed?

Boaters, fisherman and vacationers alike should make a habit of picking up and disposing of lose trash. Set the example, people will follow your leadership.


For hazardous material or large items; motor oil, tires, batteries, electronics. Visit Ohio EPA’s website to find your local recyclers and collection events.

https://epa.ohio.gov/


What can I do to improve the East Fork Watershed?

  • Participate in annual clean-up efforts.  Annually the Spring Litter Cleanup (springlittercleanup.com) attracts hundreds of volunteers to clean up sections along the East Fork River.
  • In 2005 alone, nearly 250 bags of trash including 186 tires, 7 barrels, a propane tank, microwave oven and engine manifold were collected along a 10 miles stretch of shoreline.


For more information please contact:

Becky McClatchey, Natural Resources Specialist

East Fork Watershed Collaborative

P.O. BOX 549

Owensville, OH 45160

513-732-7075 Ext: 6