USVI Public Records

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MARINE DEBRIS MARINE DEBRIS is: “Any persistent solid material manufactured or processed and then disposed of or abandoned in the marine environment.” Plastic waste 2022 Coastweeks Trash Composition 55% was plastic waste When plastics are exposed to sunlight, PHOTO-DEGRADATION takes place and causes the plastic to become brittle and can easily break into smaller, and smaller pieces. These smaller pieces called MICROPLASTICS will never go away and also have negative impacts on the environment and life on Earth. ABANDONED or DERELICT VESSELS (ADV) “derelict” often refers to vessels that are neglected with an identifiable owner, while “abandoned” vessels are those where the owner is unknown or has surrendered rights of ownership. 90% of all marine debris in the USVI comes from land-based sources. Studies show that a person’s likelihood to litter increases based on the distance to the nearest trash receptacle. Some trash is properly disposed of; however illegal dumping is still an on-going issue in the USVI. Rain and other weather impacts like hurricanes can aid in the transport of trash. Animals can tear open plastic bags containing trash thus making it easier for the trash to enter the environment. Rain can transport trash to a STORM DRAIN where it can enter the ocean. Trash found in the marine environment is easily transported by OCEANIC CURRENTS and weather impacts like TSUNAMIS. Some plastics will degrade into microplastics and incorporate into one of the six ocean garbage patches. GYRE - Large, circulating ocean current. Some plastics sink and remain on the ocean floor indefinitely. 8 MILLION metric tons of plastic waste enters our oceans annually. No place on Earth is too remote that it hasn’t yet been touched by the negative effects of PLASTIC POLLUTION (MARINE DEBRIS). Neltebergh ghut, St. Thomas Mariana Trench 36,201 feet deep The inherent design of plastics to be PERSISTENT is also why they can have far-reaching, negative impacts when they are disposed of improperly. Wildlife Humans Economy INGESTION ENTANGLED GHOST TRAPS TRANSPORT Most marine debris can be problematic if ingested; however, PLASTICS account for more animal deaths than other types of marine debris. The surfaces of MICROPLASTICS can be covered in various substances such as bacterial biofilm, heavy metals, and viruses. Scientists collected fecal samples from humans with varying diets. ALL fecal samples, no matter the diet, contained MICROPLASTICS. VEGETARIAN CARNIVORE PESCETARIAN BPA/BPB (bis-phenol) - Added to plastics to harden them. Affects multiple organs, cancer causing. Plastics are made from PETROLEUM with other additives that increase its rigidity or make the plastic resistant to fire. Many of these chemicals are linked to diseases. Phthalates - Added to plastics to make them more flexible. Endocrine disruptor. PVC (polyvinyl chloride) - Added to plastics to increase strength. Has both short-term and long-term health risks. Cancer Alley, Louisiana 85-mile stretch of land with over 200 petrochemical plants and refineries mostly located near low-income communities. Rates of cancer in this area far exceed the thresholds set by the federal government. United States, Virgin Islands Economy is largely driven by TOURISM. Beaches littered with debris is unsightly for everyone. Natural disasters (which we are prone to) exacerbate existing marine debris issues and challenges. Such as the on-going issues with each island’s LANDFILL to include fires, EPA citations, carrying capacity, and limited waste diversion programs. Beach cleanups are ideal at removing trash before it enters the marine environment. DATA should be collected. Data can be used to: 1) Help visualize TRENDS about marine debris. 2) Support LEGISLATION to address marine debris. 3) Support the creation of MANAGEMENT PLANS aimed at mitigating marine debris-related issues. Use products that are REUSABLE / sustainable. Sometimes, this may mean purchasing products with better packaging options. All beverage brands listed above are owned by Coca Cola. The same Coca Cola that in the 1990s, set itself a target of reaching 25% recycled content in their products. More than 30 years later that figure is still only 10% As consumers, you can vote with your dollars by REFUSING to support companies that continue to place corporate greed over the environment. Be mindful of GREENWASHING and/or BIOPLASTICS. Greenwashing: When an organization spends more time and money on marketing itself as environmentally friendly than on actually minimizing its environmental impact. Bioplastics: Plastics made with reduced or no petroleum. Some of these are marketed as compostable; however, they can only be composted in industrial-scale composting facilities which the USVI has none. RAISE AWARENESS of the issue through: 1) The use of public art to bring the issue to life. 2) Writing to your local senator. 3) Joining an Environmental Club. Support existing RECYCLING efforts. The USVI Glass Recovery Program recycles glass beverage bottles back into sand which be used for a number of applications to include sandbags, aggregate for concrete an asphalt, sand blasting, non-structural concrete, landscaping, and water filtration. TRIVIA - Let’s See How Much You Remember 1. What is marine debris? 2. What percentage of marine debris in the USVI comes from land-based sources? 3. TRUE or FALSE: Microplastics do NOT affect human health. 4. Name 2 things you can do today to reduce marine debris.