Lundie Spence, Ph.D., COSEE SEPresentation at SCMEA

October 14, 2007

Design Credit: Z. Norris

Post and Courier Special IssuePublished August 29,2007

Is this education?

Should students care?

What can we all do?

What’s the problem?

Find the problems on this beach.

Color plastic red

Color metal purple

Color glass blue

Color rubber yellow

Why Should You Care?

• Wildlife Entanglement

• Human Safety

• Navigational Hazards

• Tourism Images/Economics

• Personal Pride

What’s happening to Wildlife?

What is marine debris?

Recreational and Commercial GearPots, nets, linesMonofilament fishing lineFishing tackle

Abandoned VesselsRecreational BoatsCommercial BoatDocks

LitterPlasticsMetalPaper, Wood, Any produced item left in the environment

What is the source of litter?

Photo Credit: W. Golder

Consequences of Abandoned & Lost Fishing Gear

Solutions to Monofilament Line:

Recycle Recover Reuse Rescue

Credit: SCDNR

Credit: SCSGCRecreational Fishing Line Recycling Bins

Consequences of Abandoned Pots—“By catch” of Diamondback Terrapins

Diamondback Terrapins (DBT) can drown in abandoned crab pots.Credit: M. Hoyle

Hundreds of DBTs drowned in 8 unchecked commercial fyke nets in Maryland.

Solutions:Install “ByCatch Reduction Devices” (BRD),

mark and secure pots, check frequently

Abandoned Vessels in waterways and tidal creeks

Solution: Find/fine the owner; remove at state and federal expense

Credit: L SpenceCredit: SCDHEC

SC Dolphins wearing packing tape

Litter: A life or death issue for marine mammals

Credit: Wayne McFee

Credit: Wayne McFee

SC DolphinTrailing Fishing gear

Bryde’s Whale: Necropsy reveals Stomach contents with plastic bags

Educational Video: “Death of A Whale” Environmental Media, Beaufort, SC Credit: NOAA

Humpback Whale: Badly entangled fluke with commercial fishing gear.

Right Whale entanglement

Litter Lifetimes

Poster COSEE SE

South Carolina Beach Sweep/River Sweep

September 2008

Classroom Ideas

Test the strength of fishing line: Put a rubber and on a your fingers as a bird’s beak.

Thanks for Your Support

Charleston Post and Courier