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First year of Marine Refuse Project successfulContributed photos
posted 07/19/03 Fed up with the amount of debris littering local waters and threatening the safety of boaters and wildlife, Nash partnered with FOSJ to initiate the MRP. Recognizing the strong link between the local economy and the health of the marine environment, the San Juan Economic Development Council recently ranked the Marine Refuse Project in the top four priority projects for the county in 2003.
Over 150 individuals participated in the three beach cleanups, removing marine debris from 25 sites on Lopez, Orcas, San Juan, Shaw, Stuart and Waldron Islands (pictured). More than 200 bags of trash and numerous larger debris items were removed from local beaches. Plastic, of all shapes and sizes, was the most common item collected by beach cleanup participants. Unusual discoveries from the beach cleanups included a port-a-potty, a love letter in a bottle, containers with French, Spanish and Japanese Labels, multiple boat engines and a California sea lion carcass.
As Marc Grotle, Griffin Bay resident and beach cleanup participant noted, "It’s one thing to clean up the existing litter, and another thing to stop the source of it. Where does the garbage originate? I have my ideas, but are they right?" While most people recognize recreational and commercial boats as major sources of marine debris, debris from land-based activities is often the largest and most overlooked culprit, particularly in Puget Sound. The majority of items collected from San Juan County beaches in the spring cleanups were those categorized by the International Coastal Cleanup as originating from:
Tracking the beach cleanup efforts using these internationally accepting categories helps to better identify sources of marine pollution and develop prevention strategies. "The positive spin on these results is that each of us living in or visiting the San Juans can have a positive impact on the condition of our beaches and waterways," said Tina Whitman of Friends of the San Juans. "We may not need to take on industry to address the majority of trash reaching our beaches, but we do need to make some changes in our own behavior."
Beach cleanup volunteers also mapped oversized debris such as large sections of derelict docks for later pickup by Nick Nash and the Marine Refuse Project vessel. The most common items collected from the on-water components of the Marine Refuse Project over the past year were sections of docks, derelict fishing gear and large pieces of floating styrofoam. Numerous bottomfish and a harbor porpoise were found entangled in separate marine refuse items removed by Nash, highlighting the very real threat that marine debris poses to fish and wildlife.
Special thanks to the San Juan County Public Works Department, the Port of Friday Harbor and State and County Parks for their assistance with the transport and disposal of marine debris. Financial support of the pilot Marine Refuse Project was essential to a successful first year and the development of a solid foundation to expand the project from. Thanks to the Swinomish Indian Nation, Key Bank, Acordia Northwest and the numerous private individuals in our community. Partial funding has been secured from the Bullit Foundation to expand the on-water removal of marine debris throughout San Juan County in 2003; for more information on how to get involved or support the project, please contact Friends of the San Juans at 360.378.2319. |
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