Marine Debris

The primary measure of success is to decrease the mass of marine debris collected per mile during the fall International Coastal Cleanup by 10 percent from the 2022 five-year rolling average baseline of 105 pounds per mile.

Status

Every fall, volunteers on both sides of Long Island Sound participate in beach and coastal park cleanups as part of the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup events. The number of pounds of debris collected per mile at these events, based on a five-year rolling average (2021-2025), was 94 pounds per mile, which is a 10 percent decrease from the 2022 five-year rolling average.

Many variables influence the accounting of debris collected each year, including the types of debris collected, the number of volunteers, the weather, variability in the beaches selected for clean up, and if there were other cleanups on the beaches before the fall cleanup. In 2020, for example, the overall number of cleanups and the amount of debris collected were significantly reduced because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in Connecticut, while organized cleanups declined, the amount of debris collected and the number of miles covered increased because Connecticut residents were able to operate independently using a self-reporting app developed by the Ocean Conservancy. Therefore, more analysis is needed to determine whether the declining trend signals an actual reduction in coastal debris or if there are other operational variations that could explain this trend.

In an attempt to better understand the overall trend, organizations separate and count by category of debris. For example, the number of grocery plastic bags collected has declined. Both New York and Connecticut have experienced a reduction in the number of plastic bags collected per mile. This is likely the result of single-use plastic bag bans that went into full effect in New York in 2020 and Connecticut in 2021. The Long Island Sound Partnership has been assigned the task of developing a report to establish a framework for monitoring and tracking debris reduction, and to identify hotspots for trash collection and removal in the Sound.

Challenges

A primary challenge is capturing debris before it reaches Long Island Sound waters and the shoreline. There is a need to improve land-based debris capture methods in storm drains and combined sewer systems throughout the watershed and to improve awareness of the negative impacts of discarded fishing and shellfishing gear in Long Island Sound. Furthermore, tracking meaningful progress has been difficult. This objective  currently relies on data that is self-reported by volunteer cleanup “captains” or coordinators who may fall behind on reporting or not collect cleanup metrics. Part of this objective aims to establish a better framework for monitoring by 2030. Ultimately, preventing litter at its source requires changes in public behavior, such as reducing the use of disposable items.

Importance

Marine debris, defined as any persistent solid material that is manufactured and enters the marine environment, poses a significant threat. It adversely affects marine and estuarine habitats and organisms, causes economic losses to tourism and maritime industries, and can facilitate the movement of invasive species. Marine animals can become entangled in debris like discarded fishing gear and lines or ingest plastics, which can harm their health and affect predators higher up the food chain, including humans.