Types of Marine Debris

Consumer Debris and Microplastics

Consumer debris includes most every day use items such as plastic bags, bottles, packaging and straws as well as items such as beach furniture, toys, and clothes. While a significant amount of this debris is plastic, and often single-use, it also includes other materials as well such as aluminum and glass.

Microplastics are plastics <5mm in size and include microfibers, virgin plastic pellets (nurdles), and degraded plastics.

Nanoplastics are plastics <100nm. 

Fishing Gear

Derelict fishing gear (DFG) includes abandoned, lost, or discarded gear such as line, traps or nets and can negatively impact wildlife and habitats in Florida.  It also poses a safety hazard for boaters and divers.

DFG risks include ingestion, entanglement, and entrapment.  As unmonitored gear moves, not only can it continue to 'ghost fish', but it can also cause damage to sensitive coastal habitats such as coral reefs and sea grass beds, resulting in scarring. 

Derelict Vessels and Storm Debris

“Derelict vessel” (DV) means any vessel, as defined in s. 327.02, that is left, stored, or abandoned: In a wrecked, junked, or substantially dismantled condition upon any public waters of this state. DVs can occur at any time of year though become a common occurrence during sever weather events such as hurricanes. 

Hurricanes and other sever weather events generate large amounts of marine debris.  They move items such as traps and vessels, flush land based debris, and transport debris along currents and storms paths.