Do What You Otter, Clean Up the Water (Maryland)
Marine debris, or trash that ends up in oceans and waterways, is harmful for wildlife, humans and ecosystems. Curious animals such as seals, dolphins and otters accidentally ingest or become entangled in these items. Other animals, such as birds and turtles, mistake trash for food. Ingested trash can choke and poison them, as well as build up in their digestive systems. Marine debris can also harm people — from a beach-goer stepping on a sharp object to a reduction in tourism at a public beach. Whole ecosystems such as coral reefs and wetlands can be affected, especially when marine debris enters the food chain.
Viewer Tip: The International Coastal Cleanup, a volunteer event organized by the Ocean Conservancy to clear trash from oceans and other waterways worldwide, takes place each year on September 19. Last year, volunteers removed 27,794 marine debris items from Maryland’s oceans, beaches and waterways, including:
- 3,264 cigarettes/cigarette filters;
- 2,659 food wrappers/containers;
- 4,538 plastic beverage bottles;
- 467 pieces of fishing line; and
- 62 tires.
You can help! Get outdoors and enjoy the early fall weather by lending a hand for your local beach or waterway. Visit www.signuptocleanup.org to learn more and find a cleanup site near you.
Season: Fall
(Source: Ocean Conservancy, www.oceanconservancy.org/icc.)