Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment
Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment

Author: Sherry Lippiatt

Publisher:

Published: 2013

Total Pages: 82

ISBN-13:

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"This document includes guidelines for estimating debris concentrations on shorelines, in surface waters, during visual surveys at sea, and in the benthos. Background information is provided for each environmental compartment (i.e., shorelines, surface waters, and the seafloor), in addition to guidelines for survey design, required equipment, the survey techniques, and study implementation considerations. The appendices include a brief literature review for each compartment, survey data sheets, a debris item photo guide, frequently asked questions for shoreline surveys, and a summary of work completed by Versar, Inc. to test the methodologies. The techniques described in this document were developed over the course of a number of years, based on a review of the literature, discussions with experts, and field testing by the MDP and contractors. For shoreline monitoring, the MDP benefited from feedback from partner organizations who implemented these methods prior to the official publication of these guidelines. The guidelines in this document are intended for use by managers, researchers, citizen scientists, and other groups conducting marine debris survey and assessment activities, especially those requiring a rapid assessment. Monitoring and assessment of marine debris is essential to understanding the problem and being able to mitigate, prioritize, and prevent the most severe impacts. The effort to develop this document was rooted in the need to standardize methodologies and facilitate comparisons across time, space, and environmental compartments. These guidelines are provided to the marine debris community at large in order to guide the development of integrated monitoring programs nationwide"--Executive summary.

Reckoning with the U.S. Role in Global Ocean Plastic Waste
Reckoning with the U.S. Role in Global Ocean Plastic Waste

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Publisher:

Published: 2022-09

Total Pages: 250

ISBN-13: 9780309458856

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An estimated 8 million metric tons (MMT) of plastic waste enters the world's ocean each year - the equivalent of dumping a garbage truck of plastic waste into the ocean every minute. Plastic waste is now found in almost every marine habitat, from the ocean surface to deep sea sediments to the ocean's vast mid-water region, as well as the Great Lakes. This report responds to a request in the bipartisan Save Our Seas 2.0 Act for a scientific synthesis of the role of the United States both in contributing to and responding to global ocean plastic waste. The United States is a major producer of plastics and in 2016, generated more plastic waste by weight and per capita than any other nation. Although the U.S. solid waste management system is advanced, it is not sufficient to deter leakage into the environment. Reckoning with the U.S. Role in Global Ocean Plastic Waste calls for a national strategy by the end of 2022 to reduce the nation's contribution to global ocean plastic waste at every step - from production to its entry into the environment - including by substantially reducing U.S. solid waste generation. This report also recommends a nationally-coordinated and expanded monitoring system to track plastic pollution in order to understand the scales and sources of U.S. plastic waste, set reduction and management priorities, and measure progress.

Marine Anthropogenic Litter
Marine Anthropogenic Litter

Author: Melanie Bergmann

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2015-06-01

Total Pages: 456

ISBN-13: 3319165100

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This book describes how man-made litter, primarily plastic, has spread into the remotest parts of the oceans and covers all aspects of this pollution problem from the impacts on wildlife and human health to socio-economic and political issues. Marine litter is a prime threat to marine wildlife, habitats and food webs worldwide. The book illustrates how advanced technologies from deep-sea research, microbiology and mathematic modelling as well as classic beach litter counts by volunteers contributed to the broad awareness of marine litter as a problem of global significance. The authors summarise more than five decades of marine litter research, which receives growing attention after the recent discovery of great oceanic garbage patches and the ubiquity of microscopic plastic particles in marine organisms and habitats. In 16 chapters, authors from all over the world have created a universal view on the diverse field of marine litter pollution, the biological impacts, dedicated research activities, and the various national and international legislative efforts to combat this environmental problem. They recommend future research directions necessary for a comprehensive understanding of this environmental issue and the development of efficient management strategies. This book addresses scientists, and it provides a solid knowledge base for policy makers, NGOs, and the broader public.

Life Cycle Impact Assessment
Life Cycle Impact Assessment

Author: Michael Z. Hauschild

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2015-03-24

Total Pages: 345

ISBN-13: 9401797447

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This book offers a detailed presentation of the principles and practice of life cycle impact assessment. As a volume of the LCA compendium, the book is structured according to the LCIA framework developed by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO)passing through the phases of definition or selection of impact categories, category indicators and characterisation models (Classification): calculation of category indicator results (Characterisation); calculating the magnitude of category indicator results relative to reference information (Normalisation); and converting indicator results of different impact categories by using numerical factors based on value-choices (Weighting). Chapter one offers a historical overview of the development of life cycle impact assessment and presents the boundary conditions and the general principles and constraints of characterisation modelling in LCA. The second chapter outlines the considerations underlying the selection of impact categories and the classification or assignment of inventory flows into these categories. Chapters three through thirteen exploreall the impact categories that are commonly included in LCIA, discussing the characteristics of each followed by a review of midpoint and endpoint characterisation methods, metrics, uncertainties and new developments, and a discussion of research needs. Chapter-length treatment is accorded to Climate Change; Stratospheric Ozone Depletion; Human Toxicity; Particulate Matter Formation; Photochemical Ozone Formation; Ecotoxicity; Acidification; Eutrophication; Land Use; Water Use; and Abiotic Resource Use. The final two chapters map out the optional LCIA steps of Normalisation and Weighting.

Tackling Marine Debris in the 21st Century
Tackling Marine Debris in the 21st Century

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2009-01-17

Total Pages: 218

ISBN-13: 0309126975

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Marine debris from ships and other ocean-based sources-including trash and lost fishing gear-contributes to the spoiling of beaches, fouling of surface waters and the seafloor, and harm to marine animals, among other effects. Unfortunately, international conventions and domestic laws intended to control marine debris have not been successful, in part because the laws, as written, provide little incentive to change behavior. This book identifies ways to reduce waste, improve waste disposal at ports, and strengthen the regulatory framework toward a goal of zero waste discharge into the marine environment. Progress will depend on a commitment to sustained funding and appropriate institutional support. The Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee should, through planning and prioritization, target research to understand the sources, fates, and impacts of marine debris. It should support the establishment of scalable and statistically rigorous protocols that allow monitoring at a variety of temporal and spatial scales. These protocols should contain evaluative metrics that allow assessment of progress in marine debris mitigation. The United States, through leadership in the international arena, should provide technical assistance and support for the establishment of additional monitoring and research programs worldwide.

Assessment and Monitoring of Marine Debris in Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary
Assessment and Monitoring of Marine Debris in Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary

Author: Laurie J. Bauer

Publisher:

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 51

ISBN-13:

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"The primary objective of this study was to select, mark, and perform initial marine debris surveys at permanent monitoring sites within GRNMS to quantify long-term trends in types, abundance, impacts, and accumulation rates of debris. Ledge sites were selected to compare types, abundance, and accumulation rates of marine debris between a) areas of high and low use and b) short and tall ledges. Nine permanent monitoring sites were marked and initially surveyed in 2007/2008. Surveys were conducted within a 50 x 4 m transect for a total survey area of 200 m2. All debris was removed and detailed information was taken on the types of debris, quantity, and associations with benthic fauna. Information on associations with benthic fauna included degree of entanglement, type of organism with which it is entangled or resting on, degree of fouling, and visible impacts such as tissue abrasions. Sites were re-surveyed approximately one year later to quantify new accumulation"--Executive summary.

Marine Debris
Marine Debris

Author: James M. Coe

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-12-06

Total Pages: 440

ISBN-13: 1461384869

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Marine debris is a global pollution problem affecting marine life, maritime commerce and environmental quality. Scientists, policymakers and the public must be knowledgeable about the source, impact and control efforts if effective solutions are to be developed. Marine Debris addresses the origin of persistent solid waste in the ocean, from urban and rural discharges to waste from ships and the recreational use of oceans. The book identifies key issues from biological, technological, economic and legal perspectives, and gives a framework for controlling each of the main sources of marine debris.