IMHO: People are the cause of the problem. If only the people would learn... imagine that!
Atlantic Ocean Has Large Garbage Patch, Too.
Increased recycling efforts are needed to help curb
ocean garbage. (Read more)
The Oceans Invaded by Plastic and Garbage. What Can we
do about it?
Wyndham Worldwide and Plastic Free Ocean Welcome Tom
Jones to New York City
Aug. 12, 2010
Extreme
Athlete Tom Jones Sets New Standup Paddleboard World Record as He
Paddles Into Battery Park to Raise Awareness About Plastic in the
World's Oceans (Read more)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Under the MARPOL agreement and U.S. federal law, it is
illegal for any
vessel to discharge plastics or garbage containing plastics into any
waters. Additional restrictions on the disposal of non plastic wastes
are outlined above. All discharge of garbage is prohibited in the Great
Lakes or their connecting tributary waters. Each knowing violation of
these requirements may result in a fine of up to $500,000 and six years
imprisonment. Other state or local laws on disposal of garbage may also
apply. Report illegal disposal to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) on VHF
marine radio Channel 16 or call the USCG Sector Office near you.
ILLEGAL TO DUMP • Plastic • All other garbage Within 3
nautical miles of shore and anywhere in lakes, rivers, bays, and sounds.
ILLEGAL TO DUMP • Plastic • Dunnage, lining &
packing
materials that float • All other garbage if not ground to less than 1”
3 to 12 nautical miles offshore
ILLEGAL TO DUMP • Plastic • Dunnage, lining &
packing materials that float 12 to 25 nautical miles offshore
ILLEGAL TO DUMP • Plastic Outside 25 nautical miles off
shore
The environmental impact of shipping includes greenhouse
gas emissions and oil pollution. Carbon dioxide emissions from shipping
is currently estimated at 4 to 5 percent of the global total, and
estimated by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to rise by
up to 72 percent by 2020 if no action is taken.
The First Intersessional Meeting of the IMO Working Group on Greenhouse
Gas Emissions from Ships took place in Oslo, Norway on 23–27 June 2008.
It was tasked with developing the technical basis for the reduction
mechanisms that may form part of a future IMO regime to control
greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping, and a draft of
the actual reduction mechanisms themselves, for further consideration
by IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC).
Ocean Resources
The ocean is one of Earth's most valuable natural
resources. It provides food in the form of fish and shellfish—about 200
billion pounds are caught each year. It's used for transportation—both
travel and shipping. It provides a treasured source of recreation for
humans. It is mined for minerals (salt, sand, gravel, and some
manganese, copper, nickel, iron, and cobalt can be found in the deep
sea) and drilled for crude oil. website