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Harmful
Marine Debris
Seabirds
and marine animals are at risk from
our rubbish. This rubbish that litters
our coasts and oceans is called marine
debris There are two main sources
of marine debris:
- Land
sourced eg beach litter and rubbish
washed or blown into the sea via
run-off and stormwater drains.
- Ocean
sourced eg fishing gear and rubbish
tossed over the sides of boats and
ships.
Our
plastics become harmful marine debris
as they float about the ocean. Plastic
bags, bottles, synthetic ropes and
nets trap, entangle, choke, starve,
drown and are ingested by marine animals.
Marine debris is serious hazard for
seabirds and animals.
There
is a new government initiative that
now makes harmful marine debris a
'key threatening process'.
To
find out more about this and harmful
marine debris download
a Harmful Marine Debris fact sheet.
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Photograph
courtesy GBRMPA |
