Keep Our Waterways Free of Harmful Debris

Addressing the entire lifecycle of plastic pollution will protect our waters and lead to lasting change.

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Words by Blair Englebrecht, Boating Programs Manager/Puget Soundkeeper Alliance

Every month, our team at the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance patrols Washington State waterways, searching for signs of pollution. While the waterfronts may change, what remains consistent from Orcas Island to Olympia is the presence of marine debris.

Unfortunately, we find debris on every outing ranging from armchairs and full propane tanks to countless plastic bottles. While trash in our waterways is undoubtedly an eyesore, it results in a much larger issue.

“Marine debris is insidious and pervasive,” says Gillian Flippo, Stewardship Coordinator for Puget Soundkeeper “Not only does it choke marine wildlife, but it is ending up on our dinner tables.”

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines marine debris in the water as “any persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed and directly or indirectly, and intentionally or unintentionally disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment.” These items flow into waterways via storm drains, sewers, and accidental discards from recreational activities such as beach picnics, fishing and boating.

Marine debris is also defined as any human-made solid material and 90 percent of it is plastic, which isn’t biodegradable and breaks down into microscopic pieces known as microplastics. These tiny pollutants are found in every ocean on earth.

Microplastics are like a magnet for various hydrophobic toxins and include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are found in coal, crude oil and gasoline, while polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are in oil-based paints, coolant fluids, and fluorescent lights that coalesce around microplastics. Marine life ingests these microplastics and the toxins transfer to their tissue, increasing in concentration over time. This process is known as bioaccumulation. Animals that have ingested these microplastics experience weakened immune systems, reproductive issues, and neurotoxicity. They also make their way up the food chain, ending in our beloved Orca, and the fish we consume.

If you are catching and eating fish from Puget Sound, they likely contain microplastics. Every year, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance completes microplastic sampling in the region and results from a study in 2020 revealed they have been detected in 100 percent of the 69 samples. For information about the study visit https://pugetsoundkeeper.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-Puget-Soundkeeper-Trash-Report.pdf.  

While it’s clear that marine debris and microplastics are a problem, it can be overwhelming for individuals to discern how they can help. Recycling is often touted as the solution to the planet’s plastic problem. Unfortunately, only nine percent of the plastic ever produced in human history has been recycled. A small portion of the remaining plastics (12 percent) is incinerated, leaving 79 percent to accumulate in landfills or be absorbed into the environment.

One solution to this problem is to reduce the use of single-use plastics. There are many ways recreational boaters can do this including:

  • Choose food items that aren’t wrapped in plastic. Buy from the bulk section of the grocery store and bring them in a glass container like a mason jar.
  • Don’t use single-use picnic items like plates, utensils, cups or napkins onboard and use reusable items instead.
  • Refuse plastic bottled water or drinks and resort to a water bottle or lidded cup. If you’re packing beer, buy a large growler from a local brewery and avoid the plastic six-pack rings.
  • Make lunch and pack it in reusable waxed food wrappers or cloth sandwich bags rather than plastic bags or saran wrap.
  • If you buy items packaged in single-use plastics, open them at home and recycle them accordingly.
  • Always dispose of your trash after your trip or take it with you when visiting parks or shoreside destinations. Taking single-use plastic home reduces the risk of it entering the waterways.

Preventative best practices are one important step. Measures like the plastic bag bans in place (or underway) in Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia are also effective. Ultimately, the solution to this problem is to turn off the ‘plastic tap’ at the source, which are manufacturers.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is gaining ground in the Pacific Northwest and sets standards for plastic manufacturers to lessen their impact on the environment. These efforts attack the problem with plastics through the following strategies:

  • Reducing the use of non-recycled plastics and improving packaging design for improved recyclability.
  • Setting robust standards for plastic packaging.
  • Shifting the financial burden of recycling from ratepayers and local governments to plastic manufacturers.
  • Creating thousands of jobs in the recycling sector. For every one job the landfilling industry provides, the recycling industry offers nine.
  • Addressing the historic health risks posed by plastic production in vulnerable and overburdened communities.

The general public - recreational boaters included - can help educate friends and family about extended producer responsibility and ensure elected officials realize EPR is an essential tool to stop plastic pollution. To learn more about EPR visit www.pugetsoundkeeper.org or plasticfreewashington.org.  

The environmental blight of discarded fishing gear poses another form of plastic pollution. More than 260 unique species have been tangled or harmed in discarded fishing gear in Puget Sound. The Northwest Straits Foundation has found that more than 12,000 crab pots and thousands of monofilament gillnets are lost every year. They have removed over 5,800 derelict fishing nets, 6,000 crab pots and restored 348 ha (860 ac) of marine habitat since 2002. If you fish in the Pacific Northwest, follow these tips:

  • Pay attention to your surroundings. Don’t cast your line into areas you're likely to get snagged. If it does get snagged, do your best to get it free. When you need to cut it, do it as close to the snag as possible.
  • Use and store year gear properly. This includes lines, lures, poles, traps, bait and tackle boxes. The more you keep track of your gear, the less likely it will end up overboard.
  • Deploy your crab pots at slack tide and add 2 to 5 kg (5 to 10 lb) weights to your pots so they won’t drift away.
  • Weigh down your crab pot line or use a lead line to prevent it from being cut by passing boats. The length of your line shoul
  • Secure the lid and escape panels of the crab pot with a biodegradable cotton escape cord, which allows the crab to get free in case the pot gets lost.
  • Properly dispose of monofilament lines, nets, and crab pots as they can’t be recycled in residential recycling cans. Find a monofilament recycling centre or container or ask your marina to contact Fishing for Energy.

For information on how to become a monofilament recycling partner visit www.nfwf.org/programs/fishing-energy and report derelict or abandoned gear to the Northwest Straits Foundation at nwstraitsfoundation.org/derelict-gear/. Additional details about responsible fishing can be found at nwstraitsfoundation.org.

Marine debris is a complicated problem with a multifaceted solution. It affects the entire Pacific Northwest food chain - from oysters to humans. It will take everyone working together to heal decades of harm caused by marine debris and microplastics, whether it includes just picking up trash when you see it in the water or contacting your local or state officials about EPR bills.

It’s up to us to protect this incredible marine habitat and ensure the health and safety of everyone enjoying the waterways, those living in frontline communities near manufacturing facilities, or residents relying on fish as a primary food source.

“I want to ask boaters in the Pacific Northwest to explore their incredibly unique and privileged ability to connect with some of the most beautiful waterways in the world, and find a way they can help address this problem,” says Flippo. “If readers can do just one best practice from this article and commit to it, it’s a step in the right direction.”

Puget Soundkeeper Alliance has been protecting and preserving the Puget Sound watershed since 1984. Our mission is to protect and enhance the waters of the region for the health and restoration of the aquatic ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.

The organization monitors Puget Sound’s water quality; helps set strong policies and regulations that protect our waterways and health; enforces environmental regulations; engage citizens and businesses in waterway cleanups and recovery projects; educates and involves the public in local water pollution issues; and partners with local and regional groups to create solutions that protect Puget Sound.

To learn more about marine debris in the Pacific Northwest and how you can do your part visit www.pugetsoundkeeper.org.