Citation:

Ribic, C., S. Johnson, AND C. Cole. DISTRIBUTION, TYPE, ACCUMULATION AND SOURCE OF MARINE DEBRIS IN THE UNITED STATES, 1989-93. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/A-94/137 (NTIS PB94190576), 1994.

Description:

Distribution, type, accumulation, & source of marine debris on coastal beaches and in harbors of the United States were examined from 1989 to 1993. nformation was compiled from annual beach cleanups coordinated by the Center for marine Conservation, quarterly beach surveys at eight national parks, studies in Alaska that examined the deposition rate of select debris items, and surveys of floating debris in 10 harbors. ost (48-99%-) man-made debris was plastic, usually packaging (e.g., bottles, bags, lids) or miscellaneous items (e.g., fragments, pellets) . An exception was Alaska were derelict fishing gear (e.g., floats, trawl web, rope) comprised most (53W) of the plastic debris. eaches in the Gulf of Mexico accumulated the most. n 1992, the highest quarterly accumulation rate was 17,714 pieces/km at Padre Island National Seashore in the Gulf of Mexico, 1,729 pieces/km at Olympic National Park on the Pacific coast, and 1,128 pieces/km at Cape Cod National Seashore on the Atlantic coast. ll areas sampled had debris that could harm wildlife or affect human health. he most abundant entanglement debris (beaches and harbors) was rope, whereas the most abundant ingestible debris was fragments (beaches) or pellets (harbors). edical and sewage debris were most common on the Atlantic (Cape Cod National Seashore) and Gulf (Padre Island National Seashore) coasts, but rare on the Pacific coast. he source of debris on U.S.beaches is worldwide, including the United States, Mexico, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, and Russia. uch of the fishing gear (gill net, gill-net floats) on Alaska beaches originated from foreign (Japan, Taiwan, Korea) fisheries. ebris with cruise ship logos was common on Florida beaches.

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