Monitoring Photo Gallery

A printable field version of the photo gallery is also available.

Plastic - Buoys & Floats

Generally associated with fishing and boating activities (recreational or commercial). A buoy floats at the surface and is moored to the bottom. Floats (some are also called bobbers) can 'float' at various depths or rest at the surface. These come in various sizes, shapes, and colors. Most mooring buoys are made from HDPE. Rope floats are made of compression molded polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Some floats can be made of rigid polystyrene (PS-foamed plastic).
Plastic buoy with barnacles found on Midway Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
Plastic buoy with barnacles found on Midway Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. (Photo Credit: Junichi Sugishita, NWR)
Plastic foam floats found on Mosquito Creek beach, WA.
Plastic foam floats found on Mosquito Creek beach, WA. (Photo Credit: Olympic Coast NMS)
Plastic buoy found on Hobuck beach, WA.
Plastic buoy found on Hobuck beach, WA. (Photo Credit: Olympic Coast NMS)
Plastic foam float with barnacles found on Waihe'e Beach Park in Maui, HI.
Plastic foam float with barnacles found on Waihe'e Beach Park in Maui, HI. (Photo Credit: Pacific Whale Foundation)
Plastic foam float found on Norwegian Memorial beach, WA.
Plastic foam float found on Norwegian Memorial beach, WA. (Photo Credit: Olympic Coast NMS)
Plastic floats and buoys found on Shi Shi beach in Washington.
Plastic floats and buoys found on Shi Shi beach in Washington. (Photo Credit: NOAA)
Plastic crab pot floats washed ashore Drakes Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore, CA.
Plastic crab pot floats washed ashore Drakes Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore, CA. (Photo Credit: Greater Farallones NMS)

Other types of Plastic