The Problem of Marine Debris

#marinedebris #pollution #ngscience
Learn about the negative impacts of marine debris on our oceans and the organisms living in it. Find out how you can help reduce the amount of marine debris in our waterways.
The human race has accomplished some amazing feats over the last 100 years. We’ve mastered human flight and even walked on the moon, we’ve invented computers and the internet to communicate instantly across the globe and developed antibiotics and vaccines to save millions of lives.
However, there is also a downside to these achievements - we are also responsible for widespread pollution on the land, in the air and in our waterways and oceans.
Trash or human-made objects that end up in the ocean are called marine debris. Litter such as plastic bags, cigarette butts and food wrappers enter our waterways when it rains. The waterways drain into streams and rivers and eventually find their way into our oceans.
These items can be harmful to marine life because they can be mistaken for food, or they can get tangled up in animals' limbs and cause injury or death. Marine debris can also pollute the water, making it unsafe for humans and animals to swim in or drink.
There are a few ways to help reduce marine debris. One way is to properly dispose of trash, and to recycle or reuse items whenever possible. Another way is to support companies that are working to reduce their use of plastic and other harmful materials. Finally, individuals can help by picking up trash they see on the beach or in the water.
Next time you pick up some litter and put it in the trash - you're doing your part to protect our beautiful oceans and the amazing creatures that call them home.