Marine Debris from Land to Sea: Holistic Characterization, Reduction and Education Efforts in New Hampshire

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1 Marine Debris from Land to Sea: Holistic Characterization, Reduction and Education Efforts in New Hampshire ABSTRACT Over time, the focus of marine debris research and work has shifted away from simply clean-up based projects to those that incorporate education and outreach in an attempt to mitigate marine debris. This project, which began in 2007, created a community-based partnership between the UNH Engineering Department, UNH Cooperative Extension and NH Sea Grant Fisheries program as well as the environmental group Blue Ocean Society. This collaboration resulted in the Marine Debris to Energy program. This program is unique in that it takes a holistic approach to marine debris identification, monitoring and mitigation by tracking marine debris on the shore through volunteer clean-ups, underwater using multi-beam sonar, and on the ocean by collaborating with the commercial fishing industry. To date the program has created a web-based reporting system based on more than ten years of data, which incorporates GIS to graphically display derelict fishing gear and debris distribution patterns for use by scientists, environmentalists, educators and the interested public. Since 2007, the program has also resulted in the more than 250 metric tons of derelict fishing gear (nets, lobster pots, buoys and line) being removed and recycled into energy from NH coastlines and marine waters. Issue and Situation Derelict fishing gear has the potential to impact a broad range of the marine ecosystem from the marine industries that use the coastal waterways and beaches to the organisms that reside within. These impacts can be grouped into three areas. First, floating fishing gear is a hazard to vessel navigation and poses a threat to life and property when encountered at sea by water-craft of all sizes. Second, some lost or discarded derelict fishing gear continues to function as designed, catching target commercial species without economic benefit but with economic cost. This situation referred to as "ghost fishing" has not been documented and is not integrated into stock management models. Third, protected marine species (whales, dolphins, sea turtles etc.) may interact with derelict fishing gear resulting in mortality. Project partners, Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation (BOSMC) and Great Bay Coast Watch (GBCW), have been conducting coastal debris clean-up programs along the NH coastline for several years. In a 2005 report submitted to the New Hampshire Coastal 26

2 Program Department of Environmental Services, BOSMC summarized the following fishing debris collected along the NH coastline; Item Number Rope 1,344 Crab/lobster/fish traps 463 Fishing line 426 Buoys/floats 310 Bait containers/packaging 170 Fishing nets 109 Fishing lures/light sticks 74 Crates 41 Total items recorded 2,937 Fishing related debris along with all other waste collected represented more than 500 pounds of refuse per mile of coastline. Little is known about specific pathways of marine debris in the Gulf of Maine. However, most marine debris in the coastal zone is of local, on-shore origin. This relationship was documented in 1992, during a study of marine debris conducted for the U.S. National Park Service. It was found that the observed distribution of marine debris was influenced by proximity to and location down-current from urban and fishing centers, ports, shipping lanes, and military installations. There are three commercial fishing ports in NH, the Yankee Fishermen s Cooperative in Seabrook, and the Portsmouth and Rye, Harbor piers. A large naval shipyard is also located along the Southern ME/NH border as well as numerous charter boat services and recreational fishing enthusiasts along the coast. In response to the current and potential problem of marine debris and derelict fishing gear, the Fisheries Extension Program developed a partnership with both the UNH Engineering Dept. and BOSMC to increase coastal clean-up efforts as well as work with the commercial and recreational fishing industries to identify and remove ocean debris and derelict fishing gear. Extension Focus & Research Base The Marine Debris to Energy project is unique in that it takes a holistic approach to marine debris identification, monitoring and mitigation by tracking marine debris on the shore, underwater, and on the ocean. The extension and research focus are to better characterize ocean-based debris (e.g., derelict fishing gear) sources and distribution patterns; develop protocols to implement a unique underwater cleanup program to identify and remove both derelict fishing gear where possible and other debris, continue to investigate the prevalence of land-based debris sources, and mitigate the problem through education and outreach. 27

3 Major Program Components Development of an interactive infrastructure for scientific reporting of marine debris Enlist fisherman and charter boat captains to identify locations of, collect and dispose marine debris properly Locate and identify derelict or ghost fishing gear using multi-beam sonar Recruit and train community volunteers to conduct shoreline cleanups, and Conduct outreach through workshops, websites and curriculum developed for program participants (fishermen, divers, cleanup volunteers), the general public and schools. Multidisciplinary & Collaborative Components The team assembled for this project is as holistic as the project itself. All team members serve a purpose, have a key role, and have specific expertise related to their tasks. The PIs encompass university research, university extension, and an established non-profit community-based organization. The team members are as follows; Ken La Valley, NH Sea Grant/UNH Cooperative Extension. Responsibilities include Project PI, liaison between commercial and recreational fishing communities, multi-beam sonar and development of education and outreach materials. Jenna Jambeck, UNH Research Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering. Responsibilities include marine debris data collection and trend analysis. Jennifer Kennedy, Director of Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation. Responsibilities include, coordination of volunteer beach-clean up efforts and development of education and outreach materials. Shane Bradt, GIS Specialist for UNH Cooperative Extension. Responsibilities include GIS server development and map generation for website. Michael Toepfer, IT Specialist for UNH Cooperative Extension. Responsibilities include database and server development and web-based reporting interface. Capt. David Goethel, Commercial Groundfish Fisherman. Responsibilities include data gathering, reporting and debris removal. Additional participating organizations include; Yankee Fisherman s Cooperative Little Bay Lobster Company Waste Management 28

4 NH Fish and Game NH Coastal Conservation Association NH Commercial Fishermen s Association Project Development and Implementation The marine debris to energy program has followed a logical framework of quantifiable objectives. These objectives are as follows; Raise commercial and recreational boater/fishermen awareness of the impacts associated with derelict fishing gear, Monitor derelict fishing gear at-sea through industry and recreational participation, Continue to expand coastal clean-up programs, and Develop a multi-stakeholder alliance to develop best management practices. As this is an ongoing project, significant impacts have been achieved in several of the objectives, while still others are in progress. To meet these objectives a logic model approach was developed which outlines activities, outputs and anticipated outcomes (See below). Project Objective Activities Project Outputs Post-Project Outcomes Raise commercial and Hold meetings with fishermen to Increased awareness of the impacts Reduced derelict fishing gear recreational boater/fishermen awareness of the impacts associated with derelict fishing gear gain input on appropriate educational techniques associated with derelict fishing gear both at-sea, within recreational dive sites, and along the NH shoreline. Monitor derelict fishing gear atsea through industry participation Continue and Expand Coastal Clean-up Programs Develop a multi-stakeholder alliance to develop a best management practices guide. Develop outreach materials (posters, signage, flyers) Provide educational workshops for commercial and recreational watermen Recruit a total of 10 watermen from commercial and recreational groups. Develop a protocol for recording and retrivel of encountered derelict fishing gear Provide fishing gear disposal sites in close proximity to fishing ports Develop a program brochure to educate the public and recruit participants Identify new cleanup sites by conducting site visits and soliciting input from local residents Train volunteers to conduct monthly cleanups and fill out data cards Recruit a multi-stakeholder group to develop marine debris management approaches. Increased understanding of marine Self regulation of derelict debris encounters at-sea in the Gulf of fishing gear prevention and Maine retrieval by commercial and recreational watermen. Identification of high occurrence fishing gear debris sources Increased disposal of fishing gear Increased awareness of the impact of fishing debris The addition of 3 cleanup sites to the current program and a 10% increase in volunteers A best management practices guide for preventing fishing gear loss during vessel operation. Creation of a self-perpetuating multistakeholder alliance that continues to develop marine debris mitigation strategies. Increased participation in coastal clean-up programs and in the number and areas clean-ups occur. Reduced derelict fishing gear both at-sea, within recreational dive sites, and along the NH shoreline. 29

5 Impacts Achieved A web-based GIS server for marine debris data reporting and education was developed. This server is the first of its kind allowing real-time debris reporting by the community, environmental groups and members of the commercial and recreational fisheries ( Since the program started in 2007, more than 250 metric tons of derelict fishing gear has been recovered from beaches and the sea-floor and brought to a waste to energy facility. A multi-stakeholder alliance was created to assist with project promotion and for the development of best management practice guidelines. The program was expanded in 2011 to include monofilament collection bins for use by recreational and charter fishing vessels. Three (3) Marine Debris to Energy dumpsters were placed in Portsmouth, Rye and Seabrook. Over 300 derelict lobster pots were identified using multi-beam sonar (see photo below). 30