Abstract
Marine debris is one of a number of anthropogenic threats to the marine environment that have reached critical levels and gained the attention of the global community in recent years. Since widespread and large-scale plastic production began in the mid-twentieth century, plastic waste has grown exponentially. This increase in waste has resulted in more anthropogenic debris entering our oceans and washing up on beaches. An eight-week study, from July 9 – September 4, 2019, examined the presence of anthropogenic marine debris at Loggerhead Key, Dry Tortugas National Park. Loggerhead Key is a remote island with no permanent human presence and minimal boat traffic in its surrounding waters. The island is uniquely situated along the Gulf of Mexico Loop Current, the dominant current in the region which connects the Caribbean to the Atlantic Ocean. Due to the position of Loggerhead Key relative to the Gulf of Mexico Loop Current and the Straits of Florida, marine debris seen here is an indicator of debris that may later threaten the Florida Keys Reef Tract as well as beaches all along the eastern United States. In total, 1,694 pieces of anthropogenic debris were recorded, an average of roughly 1 item or 4.2 grams of debris per meter of beach. It is estimated that 27 items of debris wash up daily along the 200m of shoreline surveyed. Unsurprisingly, an overwhelming majority of items collected were made of plastic. 97% of items collected, and 80% of the gross weight collected, was plastic. Sourcing debris items revealed that debris arrives at the archipelago from several different nations, with most debris originating in the United States and Haiti. This study adds to the growing wealth of knowledge regarding marine debris classification and accumulation rates worldwide. It also provides further evidence that anthropogenic marine debris is a global threat and the solution requires a multifaceted international approach. Production of new plastics must be reduced, and consumers’ reliance on single-use plastics must be limited. Furthermore, assistance to developing and impoverished nations is necessary to improve waste management services and minimize the influx of future marine pollution.