Assessment, monitoring, and reduction of the causes and impacts of marine debris in the South Atlantic Bight
Atlantic; 2007
Background | Partners | Benefits of the Project | Photos
Background
The South Atlantic Bight (SAB) extends from Cape Canaveral, FL to Cape Hatteras, NC and is home to thriving benthic and fish communities. NOAA's Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary (GRNMS) is the only natural area protected off the Georgia coast and the only federally protected ocean bottom habitat in the SAB. Less than 1% of the 17 square nautical mile sanctuary is densely colonized live bottom habitat, which attracts a growing number of recreational fishers and divers.
As part of a recent characterization of GRNMS, the Biogeography Branch (BB) has characterized marine debris in Gray's Reef. They found that incidence of the debris at the limited densely colonized ledge sites in the sanctuary was significantly greater than at sand or sparsely colonized live bottom, and is further influenced by the level of boating activity and physiographic characteristics (e.g. ledge height).
Building upon this work, scientists from the BB will work with sanctuary staff to establish a long-term monitoring program to quantify accumulation rates and impacts of marine debris at densely colonized ledge habitat. NOAA scientists will design the survey, select and mark sites, and then perform the initial survey and remove debris from each site. GRNMS will then perform the survey on an annual basis.& At the same time, GRNMS will expand outreach programs to educate users and the general public about the importance of reducing marine debris inputs.
Partners
- NOAA/NOS/NCCOS/CCMA/Biogeography Branch
- Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary
- NOAA Coastal Services Center
- Local fishing groups
- Local diving clubs
Benefits of the Project
- Removal of debris from sensitive hard-bottom habitat
- Reduced impacts from marine debris on benthic organisms
- Improved knowledge of debris accumulation rates
- Refined models predicting debris distribution
- Improved monitoring and removal efforts
- Greater awareness about the impacts of marine debris among SAB residents
- Reduced input of marine debris
Photos
Photo courtesy of Biogeography Branch.
Photo courtesy of NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary.
This program is funded through NOAA's Ocean Service, Office of Response & Restoration, Marine Debris Program.
