The Economic Impacts of Marine Debris on Beaches

• The NOAA Marine Debris Program funded a study with Abt Associates to better understand the economic impacts of marine debris on beaches. The results of the study showed that the varying amounts of marine debris on beaches can have an impact on the number of days visitors spend on those beaches, resulting in changes to the amount of tourism dollars spent, the number of local jobs, and the value of beach recreation.

Eliminating Marine Debris: Orange County, California

• Increase of 2.1 million visitor days
• Increase of $130 million in recreational value
• Increase of $187 million in tourism spending
• Increase of 1,900 jobs

Doubling Marine Debris: Orange County, California

• Decrease of 4.6 million visitor days
• Decrease of $275 million in recreational value
• Decrease of $414 million in tourism spending
• Decrease of 4,300 jobs

Eliminating Marine Debris: Coastal Ohio

• Increase of 2.8 million visitor days
• Increase of $88 million in recreational value
• Increase of $217 million in tourism spending
• Increase of 3,700 jobs

Doubling Marine Debris: Coastal Ohio

• Decrease of 2.8 million visitor days
• Decrease of $84 million in recreational value
• Decrease of $218 million in tourism spending
• Decrease of 3,700 jobs

Eliminating Marine Debris: Coastal Delaware & Maryland

• Increase of 478,000 visitor days
• Increase of $20 million in recreational value
• Increase of $35 million in tourism spending
• Increase of 460 jobs

Doubling Marine Debris: Coastal Delaware & Maryland

• Decrease of 3.5 million visitor days
• Decrease of $141 million in recreational value
• Decrease of $254 million in tourism spending
• Decrease of 3,400 jobs

Eliminating Marine Debris: Coastal Alabama

• Increase of 308,000 visitor days
• Increase of $10 million in recreational value
• Increase of $35 million in tourism spending
• Increase of 670 jobs

Doubling Marine Debris: Coastal Alabama

• Decrease of 1 million visitor days
• Decrease of $32 million in recreational value
• Decrease of $113 million in tourism spending
• Decrease of 2,200 jobs