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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0312.002 2010-2012Ten Things You Can Do To Reduce MARINE DEBRIS: 1. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Choose reusable items and fewer disposable ones. Please visit www.opala.org website to discover more recycling options (e.g., batteries, cans, cell pones, computers, fishing line). 2. Place all rubbish in trash cans with lids so it doesn't blow away. Keep streets, sidewalks, parking lots, and storm drains free of trash as they empty into our oceans. Throw all cigarette butts and bottle caps into refuse containers!!! 3. Encourage your tackle shops, docks, marinas, and fishing piers to provide adequate trash cans and recycling bins for used line and other trash. Bring your oil cans, food wrappers, cig butts back to shore. Visit www.berkley- fishing.com/about_ conservation.php #brp and www. / /floridaconservation. org /mrrp /index.asp for info on monofilament recycling programs. 4. "Paper or plastic ?" Neither!!! Remember to use your reusable shopping bags (www.ecobags.com). In addition, "Less is More" — be mindful to select products with minimal packaging. 5. Instead of continually purchasing plastic - bottled water, use water filters, water coolers, and refillable stainless steel bottles instead of purchasing bottled water (www.kleankanteen.com & www.takebackthefilter.org). 6. Buy soft drinks in aluminum cans or glass, which can be redeemed and recycled (not down - cycled like plastic). 7. Encourage restaurants to use biodegradable (or at least #1 and #2 recyclable plastic) take -out food containers and utensils. Better yet, bring your own! (www.lifewithoutplastic.com and www.to - goware.com). 8. Avoid over - packaged merchandise, disposable lighters, razors, cameras, and other throw- away items (www.ecocycle.org). 9. Avoid body care products containing tiny plastic "micro- scrubbers" that wash down the drain into our oceans (solution: make your own bath products — see other side). 10. Serve as an example to others. Practice 1 — 9 above and participate in local beach cleanups. To learn more about marine debris in Hawai`i please visit www.hawaiiwildlife fund.org (or contact kahakai. cleanups @gmail. com) & www.b- e- a- c -h.org websites. In addition, be sure to write and speak to your elected officials and encourage them to support policies that protect our ocean. Links to sources and more information: Hawai`i Wildlife Fund (www.wildhawaii.org) or contact kahakai. cleanups @gmail. com National Oceanic and Atmosperic Administration (NOAA) — (http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/marinedebris101/posters.html) The Ocean Conservancy — (www.oceanconservancy.org) Conserve HI — (www.conservehi.org /pg- newsletters /newsletters -pdfs/ 2008 - spr.pdf) Comm. No. 3(2. 2 Ref. To °rimmed EMC Mtn 1.414tEr SEP 7 2011 Do- It- Yourself Recipes for Sustainable Living Ever wonder how to... Make your own laundry soap? (http: / /www.thesimpledollar.com /2008 /04/09 /making - your -own- laundry- detergent -a- detailed - visual - guide /) Bake your own crackers? (http: / /www.101cookbooks.com/ archives /olive -oil- crackers - recipe.html) Make your own yogurt? ( http : / /www.makeyourownyogurt.com /) For these products and more please see (http: / /www. thedailygreen. com /green- homes /latest /diy- natural- beautyproducts- recipes- 461108) and (http://www.wittyliving.com/recipes/facial-mask-recipes.html): Bath Products Shampoo: use apple cider vinegar as necessary. Soap: use locally made glycerin or castile soaps. Conditioner : mix baking soda and water to make a thin paste, use as usual (caution: may eventually lighten hair if used in combination with sunlight) All - natural Face Mask w "scrubbers ": 1/4 cup yogurt (or can use a ripe mashed tomato), 1 tablespoon sea salt (or can use oatmeal), 1 teaspoon fresh orange juice (or could use lemon juice or mashed papaya) Here are more ideas from "How to Make a Non -Toxic Cleaning Kit" (http: / /www.care2.com /greenliving /make-your-own-non-toxic-cleaning-kit. html) and "Homemade Green Cleaning Recipes" (http:/ /homemade bathproducts. blogspot. com/2009/07/homemade-green-cleaning-recipes.html) and elsewhere: Cleaning Products Toilet -bowl cleaner: use a mixture of baking soda and water (add lemon juice for smell) and clean as usual. All-purpose cleansers: use White Vinegar instead of Windex, Tilex, 409 ... etc. and if that doesn't get the gunk off, try baking soda or one of the less -toxic ingredients listed below ... Ingredients for less -toxic cleaners Taken from the Oregon Metro Website @: www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=24199 Save money and protect your family and the environment by using these safe and simple ingredients to clean your home. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate): Absorbs odors and is a mild abrasive. Found in the baking section of the grocery store. Glycerin: Found in pharmacies or health food stores, this water - loving liquid has antiseptic qualities and moisturizes the skin. Hydrogen peroxide: Disinfectant. Use the household concentration (3 percent) typically found in pharmacies. Liquid soap: Vegetable -oil -based soap sometimes referred to as castile soap. Found in most health food stores. Dr. Bronner's is a popular one. Liquid detergent: Most dishwashing liquids are detergents. Try purchasing vegetable -oil -based soaps, which are more environmentally friendly than petroleum -based products. Vegetable -oil -based soaps can be found in health food stores. Petroleum is a limited resource (unlike vegetable oils) and its extraction and refining causes pollution. Vinegar: Removes soap scum, grease and mineral deposits and acts as a deodorizer. Use only white distilled vinegar for most of these recipes. You can try apple cider vinegar for windows, since it has a more pleasant scent. Washing soda (sodium carbonate): It is slightly caustic and a great grease cutter. Don't use it on waxed floors (unless you want to remove the wax), fiberglass or aluminum. Found in the laundry section, made by Arm & Hammer. Borax: Effective cleaner. This is a strong alkaline that is non -toxic in the quantities needed for these cleaning recipes but may be toxic in its concentrated form. Keep all borax - containing cleaners out of the reach of children. Found in the laundry section of the grocery store, it is sold as 20 Mule Team Borax. Essential oils: Mostly used for deodorizing or scenting cleaners. Essential oils, such as mint, eucalyptus, lavender, lemon and tea tree, can be found in health food stores or herbal supply shops. Tea tree oil is currently in the process of being registered as a disinfectant in this country. Non -toxic in small quantities, this oil may be toxic in concentrated forms. Keep out of the reach of children. Tip: Be sure to put all mixtures in clearly marked containers. HAWAII WILDLIFE FUND Photo by Paul McCormick_ A CLEANER KA U COASTLINE Since 2003, Hawai`i Wildlife Fund (HWF) has removed more than 130 tons of marine debris from the southeast coastline of Ka`u on Hawai`i Island. With help from NOAA and community volunteers, HWF is continuing to clear the beach of fishing nets, rubber, metal, and plastic of all shapes and sizes. This debris threatens marine life through ingestion and entanglement; it smoth- ers the reef, and poses a safety hazard to beach -goers and boats. With the as- sistance of Matson©, the fishing nets are shipped to O`ahu for NOAA's Nets -To- Energy program conducted with partners Schnitzer Steel and Covanta Energy. To participate in the Hawai`i Wildlife Fund cleanup effort or to find out more about this and other projects check us out at: www.WildHawaii.org kahakai.cleanups @gmail.com I (808) 769 -7629 CONSERVATION ilki DESERVES MORE �QQ� THAN 2 %. �l/ 1 Q• 4, 1 40 O . Matson 4y�� CO- MANIA MERGY SCHNITZER STEEL INDUSTRIES. INC. A� MPOWBR RINE BRIS WAI1 GET INVOL local cleanups in your area! REMEMBER that our land an sea are connected. REDUCE the amount of wasi . you produce. REUSE items when you car Choose reusable items ove disposable ones. RECYCLE as much as possible! Bottles, cans, cell phones, ink cartridges, and many other items can be recycled! July 2007 Printed on recycled paper with vegetable ink. Photos courtesy of James Watt, NOAA Fisheries Service, NOAA Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, State of Hawaii, Hawaii Wildlife Fund, and University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program. r c For more information Marine Pearl and Hermes Atoll Laysan Raita island Bank Midway Atoll Kure Atoll Lisianski Island Gardner Pinnacles French Frigate Shoals Mara Reel Pioneer Bank and Neva Shoals Mokumanamana (Necker) Niihau Nihoa Kauai Oahu Lanai Kaho'olawe Molokai Hawaii of Hawaii is an archipelago of islands, atolls, banks, and shoals extending over 1,500 miles in the Pacific Ocean. Hawaii is home to endangered Hawaiian monk seals, sea turtles, dolphins, whales, many species of seabirds, and an abundance of coral reefs. Throughout Hawai`i, marine debris continues to present a hazard to marine life and habitat, as well as saf navigation. , s DIRECT from ocean -based sources such as ships and fishing vessels. INDIRE =CT from land -based sources when washed out t sea via streams and stor drains. Degradatio Timeline Paper towel 2 -4 weeks Movement of Marie e ri 40N 30N 20N 10N 1071110: gilot 50N S ba tic Gy e adit 6a tic rout t' - 40N li 71.5 #1#161 511 At‘ Sub rob! « I Fr•nt _i_ 1111h1i Ili S bt4ical Gy Epankil Milk carton 3 months Plywood 1 -3 years 30N 0 120E 140E 20N 1ON Cigarette filter 1 -5 years 0 160E 180 160W 140W 120W 100W 80W The North Pacific, California, North Equatorial, and Kuroshi currents along with atmospheric winds generate the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (shown above). Located in the center of this subtropical gyre, marine debris accumulates in Hawaii (Timmers et al., 2005). Plastic bag 10 -20 years Endangered Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi) are endemic to Hawaii and threatened by entanglement in marine debris. Plastic cup 50 years Timmers, M., C. Kistner, and M. Donohue. 2005. Marine Debris of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands: Ghost Net Identification. Sea Grant: UNIHI - SEAGRANT- AR- 05 -01. From TRASH to ELECTRICITY Removing and Recycling Marine Debris in Hawaii Rubber shoe sole 50 -80 years Aluminum can 80 -200 year The debris is then hauled on board an awaiting boat. As much as possible, the derelict nets are character- ized. Derelict fishing gear, a form of marine debris, is removed from the land and nearshore waters of Hawaii. Plastic soda bottle 450 years The debris is brought to Honolulu Ha is off- loade•f'' A Disposable diaper 450 years The chopped nets are taken ;uriolulu's H- Power facility where they are burned to create electricity. Monofilamen fishing line 600 years Partnerships On :e there, the debris is chapped into small pieces sui'.able for incineration. It is then taken to Schnitz Steel Hawaii Cor ;?ration's faciii The National Oceanic and Atmospheric. administration (NOAA) works with other feceral agencies, state and county departments, non - governmental organizations, industry partners, privilte businesses, and community groups to ensure the success of all efforts to address the problem of ma ine debris. Glass bottl 1 million years (from Mote Marine Laboratory, F Effects of Marine De iris In Hawaii, marine debris affects the beauty of our environment, is a safety hazard for humans, a navigational hazard for vessels, and threatens our wildlife. From a beach covered in trash to a ghost net continually trapping marine life, marine debris is a problem that we cannot ignore. Aesthetics Habitat Destruction Coral reefs are the basis of many of Hawaii's n�:;rine ecosystems. Marine deb W, can break and smother :oral. Further damage can be caused with wave action and by needed sunlight to gestior NOAA diver removing a derelict net from the reef in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (Northwestern Hawaiian Islands). Damage to this reef is noticeable once the derelict net is removed. Wildlife Entanglement Hawaii's economy is based on tourism, and marine debris affects the beauty of the beaches and environment that many come to see. Kanapou Beach on Kaho`olawe (shown above) and near South Point on the Big Island of Hawaii (shown below) are two areas where marine debris accumulates in the main Hawaiian Islands. Endangered North Pacific humpback whales and threatened green sea turtles are two marine species in Hawaii affected by marine debris. Entanglement in debris, primarily derelict fishing gear such as nets, rat icac riamana anri may raci ilt in riaath Seabirds ingest marine debris, particularly plasti pieces such as bottle caps. Many times parents will regurgitate the debris to their chicks. Debris accumulates in their stomach and intestine leading,;: starvation and even death. Vessel Damage and Navigational Hazard Large accumulations of derelict fishing gear can damage a vessel, entangle the propellor, and result in a safety risk for those on board. Due to the size of many debris conglom- erations, they are also a navigational hazard. Fishermen and other mariners help by removing and returning this debris to port. Alien Species Transport Marine debris is a transport mechanism for alien species. An invasive intertidal anemone, Diadumene lineata, was found attached to a derelict trawl net at Pearl and Hermes Atoll in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. This anemone was not recorded nravini icly in Hawaii_