Marine Debris Exhibit

This page holds the audio description for the exhibit cases and images of the banners that make up our Marine Debris exhibit. This exhibit was paid for by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program.

 

 

Impacts on Lake Erie’s Wildlife

It’s Everywhere!

Marine debris is everywhere. It litters our shores, collects on the water’s surface, and settles on the lake bottom. Marine debris is an eyesore along shorelines around the world, and it degrades the beauty of the coastal environment.

Microplastics are smaller than a pencil eraser, and many animals mistake them
for food. This fills their stomachs with items they can’t digest.

Marine lake species often get tangled in debris, from fishing nets to six-pack rings. When caught, they could be injured or even die.

Debris can damage important habitats, like rivers, streams, and wetlands. These areas are
vital to our lake ecosystem, and impacts here can be felt all the way to you and me.

Boats and ships run into large pieces of debris, damaging and sinking to the bottom of the lake.

 

• Garbage Exhibit Case

  
  

  Audio description for the garbage exhibit case. Part of the Marine Debris Exhibit.

  Date created:

  06/24/2021

  Audio Transcript

  Plastics are one of the most common type of debris, and they are incredibly durable. They never actually disappear, but break down into smaller and smaller pieces, turning into microplastics. Wildlife gets tangled in discarded plastics and even consumes harmful microplastics. Fortunately, plastic is the easiest debris to prevent from entering the environment! We can all do our part to keep Lake Erie clean by reducing the waste we produce, refusing to buy or use things that will only be used once, recycling what we can, and reusing items instead of throwing them away.

 

What is Marine Debris?

Marine debris is anything solid and man-made, including litter, that is lost or thrown into the marine and Great Lakes environment. Once in the environment, plastic marine debris breaks up into smaller and smaller fragments, but never fully goes away. Because so many of the things we use and produce are made of plastic, it is one of the most common types of marine debris found in the ocean and Great Lakes.

Lake Erie’s future depends on our actions to improve this natural habitat now!

 

• Diorama Model

  
  

  Audio description for the diorama of showing sources of marine debris. Part of the marine debris exhibit.
  Audio Transcript

  Harmful marine debris comes from a wide variety of sources, and it can even come from miles away. Boaters leave behind floating debris that pollutes the lake's surface, damaging the environment and the natural beauty. Fishing gear, nets, lines, and abandoned equipment end up on the shore and tangled in piers. Heavier debris, including metal, concrete, and some plastics, sinks to the bottom of the lake where it's incredibly difficult to remove. Plastic wads for shotgun shells are discharged with every shot, and there is no practical way for hunters to recover these wads that typically travel 30 to 50 yards. Beachgoers leave litter behind. Streams and storms carry debris and trash from other locations, even distant neighborhoods.

 

Impacts on Lake Erie’s Economy

Tourism & Recreation

The largest employer in the Great Lakes economy is the tourism and recreation
sector, which relies heavily on healthy coastal resources and a clean, beautiful
environment. Unfortunately, marine debris is a pervasive issue in many coastal areas
of the United States.

Does Marine Debris Affect the Economy?

Imagine you’ve just planned a family trip to the beach, but when you arrive, you find a beach littered with debris. Would you stay and play, or be on your way? A recent study of beachgoer behavior helps us understand the potential economic effects of marine debris on the coastal tourism economy.

 

How Can You Help?

11 Million

The shores and islands of Lake Erie see nearly 11 million visitors every year, who can generate a lot of
marine debris.
If every visitor committed to do better, imagine how much cleaner our lake would be. Commit to
helping reduce marine debris no matter where you are.
We can all be part of the solution!

You Can Help... at Home

You can help from your own home. You can buy in bulk and use reusable
containers. Many plastic items can be recycled or used again. Whenever you
reuse or use less, you create less waste that can potentially become marine
debris.

You Can Help... On the Water

You can properly stow and secure all trash on your boat and recycle your fishing line. Remember that it is illegal to dispose of any garbage in all U.S. waters and anywhere at sea.
You can report illegal dumping to your local U.S. Coast Guard. You can support environmentally responsible marinas that participate in Clean Marina programs, which offer sufficient waste and recycling receptacles, including places to recycle fishing line.

You Can Help... On the Shore

You can easily join the cleanup effort by picking up garbage and throwing it away in the proper trash or recycling bin. Look for 3 things between your car and beach blanket to make a big difference!
Help document debris in your community with the Marine Debris Tracker app.
Knowing more about the different types of debris found on a beach, or even on your street, is the first step towards preventing it.

 

Pledge to Help

“I pledge to do my part to protect Lake Erie”
Use reusable straws
Use reuseable shopping bags
Recycle my fishing line
Pick up 3 pieces of litter
Properly dispose of cigarette butts

YOU can make a difference!

 

Did You Know?

Not all Plastics float! Many break down and sink to the bottom causing
problems for wildlife and the environment
At least one third of all seabird species eat debris

Cigarette butts are made of a plastic-like material that doesn’t degrade

Worldwide, more than 350 Species of wildlife become entangled in debris

Plastic is the most common type of marine debris in the ocean and Great Lakes

Plastic does not biodegrade in water

You can volunteer to clean up the lake

11 Million people get their drinking water from Lake Erie. Let’s keep it clean!

You can Tie things down when you are boating, so your items will not become marine debris

You can Pick Up more garbage than you make