Decrease Marine Debris

Achieve trash free waters by increasing clean-up efforts and preventing marine debris from entering Long Island Sound.

Marine debris is any solid material that is manufactured or processed and ends up in the marine environment, either directly or indirectly. This includes items like plastic containers, food wrappers, fishing line, derelict gear, and construction materials. Debris can come from land-based sources, such as litter carried by stormwater runoff, overflowing trash bins, or poorly managed waste systems. It also comes from water-based sources, including material that is dumped, blown, or washed off boats and docks, and gear lost or abandoned during fishing and aquaculture operations. Storms and floods can also generate large volumes of debris by damaging buildings, vessels, and infrastructure.

Marine debris can harm wildlife, damage habitats, and create economic costs by interfering with tourism, fishing, and navigation. The 2015 CCMP set a strategy to reduce the generation of marine debris and improve cleanup efforts in Long Island Sound. As a result of that strategy, Connecticut and New York Sea Grant college programs developed the Long Island Sound Marine Debris Action Plan in 2022, with funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

This objective sets a goal to reduce the average amount of debris collected during the fall International Coastal Cleanup by 10 percent. The current five-year rolling average is 174 pounds of debris per mile, based on data from 2018 to 2022.

In addition to reducing debris, this objective includes developing a long-term framework for tracking reductions. Pounds of debris per mile will be used as a proxy measure until a more comprehensive system is in place. A detailed report is expected by 2030, identifying marine debris hot spots and outlining a plan for future monitoring and data collection.

Actions

• Support research and monitoring to better understand the extent, sources, and impacts of debris on the ecosystem.
• Advance and implement interception technologies and tools that remove debris and support
  education and outreach.
• Support the removal of marine debris in LIS and coastal watersheds.
• Inform and support the development and implementation of municipal and state marine debris
  plans and policies to reduce, prevent, and intercept debris.

Programs