Knowra Marine debris Marine debris Marine debris is human-made solid waste that enters oceans and other waterways. It includes persistent plastics, discarded fishing gear, lost cargo, and other materials that can harm ecosystems and people.
Ocean gyres : Large systems of circulating ocean currents driven by wind and Earth’s rotation. Surface currents concentrate floating debris in some regions of the ocean.
Marine debris monitoring : The systematic observation and measurement of human-made waste in marine and coastal environments. Surveys establish where debris accumulates and whether interventions change its abundance.
Riverine plastic pollution : Plastic waste transported by rivers from inland areas toward lakes, estuaries, and oceans. Rivers connect land-based waste sources to coastal and marine waters.
Marine pollution : The introduction of substances or energy into the sea that harms organisms, ecosystems, or human uses. Marine debris is one form of the broader problem of marine pollution.
Marine litter : Persistent, manufactured or processed solid material discarded, disposed of, or abandoned in the marine and coastal environment. The term often overlaps with marine debris but emphasizes littered material and its disposal.
Biofouling : The accumulation of organisms on submerged surfaces, including natural materials and human-made objects. Organisms attached to debris can alter its buoyancy and dispersal.
Beach cleanup : The removal of litter and other unwanted material from shorelines. Cleanup efforts remove accessible debris and can generate data about its sources.
Combined sewer overflow : A discharge of untreated wastewater and stormwater from a shared sewer system when its capacity is exceeded. Overflow events can carry litter and plastic items into waterways.
Sea turtle : A marine reptile whose life cycle includes migration between feeding grounds and nesting beaches. Turtles can ingest plastic bags or become entangled in discarded fishing gear.
Oil spill : The release of liquid petroleum into the environment, especially into a body of water. Oil pollution is a major marine contaminant, but it is not solid debris.
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