PRESS RELEASE
Ocean Conservancy Report: The World’s Only Snapshot of
Trash in the Ocean and Its Hazardous Effects on Ocean Life
Ocean Conservancy released its annual report
The top 10 debris items collected
on trash in the ocean with new data from
during the 2007 flagship event include:
the 2007 International Coastal Cleanup – the
• Cigarettes/cigarette filters
• Cups/plates/forks/
most comprehensive snapshot of the harmful
• F
ood
wrappers/containers
knives/spoons
impacts of marine debris. The mission of
• Caps/lids
• Glass beverage bottles
Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal
• Bags
• Cigar tips
Cleanup is to engage people to remove trash
• Plastic beverage bottles
• Straws/stirrers
from the world’s beaches and waterways, to
• Beverage cans
identify the sources of debris and to change
the behaviors that cause pollution. This year, more than 378,000 volunteers participated in cleanups
around every major body of water around the globe. Volunteers record the trash found on land and
underwater allowing Ocean Conservancy a global snapshot of the problem.
“Our ocean is sick,” says Laura Capps, Senior Vice President at Ocean Conservancy. “And the plain
truth is that our ocean ecosystem cannot protect us unless it is healthy and resilient. Harmful impacts
like trash in the ocean, pollution, climate change, and habitat destruction are taking its toll. But the
good news is that hundreds of thousands of people from around the world are starting a sea change by
joining together to clean up the ocean. Trash doesn’t’ fall from the sky it falls from people’s hands. With
the International Coastal Cleanup, everyone has an opportunity to make a difference, not just on one
day but all year long.”
Trash in the ocean kills more than one million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals and turtles each
year through ingestion and entanglement. This year, 81 birds, 63 fish, 49 invertebrates, 30 mammals 11
reptiles and one amphibian were found entangled in debris by volunteers. Some of the debris they were
entangled or had ingested include plastic bags, fishing line, fishing nets, six-pack holders, string from a
balloon or kite, glass bottles and cans.
Prevention is the real solution to trash in the ocean. The International Coastal Cleanup volunteers make
ocean conservation an everyday priority. Since 1986, more than six million volunteers have removed
116,000,000 pounds of debris across 211,460 miles of shoreline in 127 nations. The 23rd annual
Flagship International Coastal Cleanup will be held Sept. 20, 2008.
For more information, including country and state reports, photos and
graphics, or to register, visit www.oceanconservancy.org/icc
Start a Sea Change: A Day at the Beach becomes a Year-Round Movement
Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup
A Single Effort Started a Sea Change
One woman walking along the beach of South Padre Island, Texas was appalled at the amount of trash
she saw – and she immediately felt compelled to do something about it. She organized a beach cleanup
and in a mere two hours, 2,800 Texans picked up 124 tons of trash.
That was in 1986.
Today, a worldwide movement grew out of that single event with more than six million volunteers in 127
countries and all 55 U.S. states and territories over the last 23 years. On the third Saturday in September
each year, the International Coastal Cleanup provides a direct and tangible way for individuals to make a
difference for one of the largest problems we face – trash in the ocean.
Trash in the ocean kills more than one million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals and turtles each
year through entanglement and ingestion. In 2007, volunteers found 237 ocean animals entangled in
fishing line, plastic bags, six-pack holders and rope.
Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup is a year-round effort keeping our ocean free from
trash and safer for people and animals. Our flagship event in September is a celebration of this effort
and is the largest single day volunteer event to protect our ocean and waterways.
During the International Coastal Cleanup flagship event in September, volunteers record each piece
of trash picked up at sites around every major body of water around the world. Local and regional
coordinators then collect the raw data that is calculated by Ocean Conservancy including number
of volunteers on each site, the number of pounds of trash removed, and what items were collected.
Ocean Conservancy uses this data to produce a global snapshot of the issue of trash in our ocean.
The International Coastal Cleanup Data Report is a compilation of the information on trash in the
ocean and the hazards of marine debris. It details the importance of every person to take responsibility
for protecting beaches and waterways year-round.
The 2008 International Coastal Cleanup flagship event will be held Sept. 20th.
For more information including country and state reports, photos and graphics, or to register, visit www.oceanconservancy.org/icc
Start a Sea Change: A Day at the Beach becomes a Year-Round Movement
Top Ten List
Trash in the ocean kills more than one
million seabirds and 100,000 marine
mammals and turtles each year through
entanglement and ingestion. In 2007,
International Coastal Cleanup volunteers
found 237 ocean animals entangled in trash
during the three-hour event including;
81 Birds, 63 Fish, 49 Invertebrates, 30
Mammals, 11 Reptiles and 1 Amphibian
were found entangled in fishing line,
fishing nets, six-pack holders, plastic bags
and balloon string, to name only a few.
Entanglement in Ocean Trash:
Top 10 Debris Items Collected Worldwide
during Ocean Conservancy’s
International Coastal Cleanup
Cigarettes/cigarette filters
Food wrappers/containers
Caps/lids
Bags
Beverage Bottles (plastic)
Cups/plates/forks/knives/spoons
Beverage Bottles (glass)
Cigar Tips
Straws/Stirrers
Beverage Cans
Total Top 10 Debris Items Worldwide
Total Debris Worldwide
1,971,551
693,612
656,088
587,827
494,647
376,294
349,143
325,893
324,680
308,292
6,088,027
7,238,201
• Wraps around flippers causing
circulation loss and amputations
• Creates wounds and cuts leading to bacterial infections
• Slows animals ability to swim making them more vulnerable to predators
• Smothers or traps animals, causing them to drown
• Causes starvation as animals can no-longer eat or feed its young
Ingestion of Ocean Trash:
• Leads to starvation by blocking digestive tracks
• Provides false sense of being full once swallowed, which leads to starvation
• Ingests sharp objects like metal or glass that perforate the stomach, causing internal bleeding
• Becomes lodged in animals windpipes, cutting off airflow and causing suffocation
How Long Does It Take for Trash in the Ocean to Decompose?
• A tin can that entered the ocean in 1986 is still decomposing in 2036
• A plastic bottle that entered the ocean in 1986 is decomposing in 2436
• A glass bottle that entered the ocean in 1986 is decomposing in year 1,001,986
Start a Sea Change: A Day at the Beach becomes a Year-Round Movement
Charts and Graphs
1
Trash in the ocean can be deadly for marine and wildlife. Listed below
are some of the dangerous items found by volunteers of the International
Coastal Cleanup since 2000.
2
3
4
5
2 Balloons
1 Fishing Line/Net
3 Six Pack Holders
4 Crab/lobster/fish traps
5 Syringes
482,542
751,587
283,453
87,229
59,446
Trash in the ocean kills more than one million seabirds and 100,000
marine mammals and turtles each year through ingestion and entanglement.
Below is a list of the animals found entangled by International Coastal Cleanup
volunteers since 2000.
1 Birds 2 Fish
3 Invertebrates
4 Mammals
5 Reptiles
915
793
502
308
98
Most of the trash in the ocean comes from activities taking place on
land. Changing our behavior is the key to litter prevention. Here are the
sources of debris found during the 2007 International Coastal Cleanup.
1 Shoreline Activities 2 Smoking Related
3 Ocean & Waterway 4 Dumping
5 Medical and Personal Hygiene 57.4%
33.6 %
6.3%
2.0%
0.8%
Start a Sea Change: A Day at the Beach becomes a Year-Round Movement