Save Our Shores uses these marine debris data to document trends in the type, amount and distribution of debris across beaches and some river sites within the reach of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. SOS incorporates the data into school educational presentations and outreach to the general public. SOS also reports data such as persistently problematic materials and highly impacted areas to local government bodies to inform decision making processes. Lastly, SOS provides these data to partnering organizations, government agencies, and the general public by publishing data quarterly to our website and on an as needed basis by requests from individuals.

For more information about this program, contact: cleanup@saveourshores.org

In January 2009, SOS began to use the new data card at all cleanups and also distributed the data card to several partner organizations conducting cleanups in the Monterey Bay region. SOS also created an online system that allows partner organizations to report their marine debris data after cleanups. This online reporting system and all marine debris data are available through the SOS website. See Figure 1 for a sample of the marine debris data card.


SOS is continuing to work with the CCC to secure funding for a statewide database that could house marine debris data collected at cleanups across California. Additionally, SOS will continue to work with the CCC to distribute the new data card to the broadest audience of organizations possible.

• General trends in the marine debris data collected at these cleanups show: The top five items (measured as the total number of individual items) found on beaches, in order from most common to least common, are cigarette butts, unidentifiable plastic pieces, plastic bags, unidentifiable Styrofoam pieces, and fireworks.
• The top five items (measured as the total number of individual items) found on rivers, in order from most common to least common, are unidentifiable plastic pieces, plastic bags, cigarette butts, unidentifiable glass pieces, and paper products.
• Plastic materials account for the majority of debris found (measured as individual items).
• River cleanup sites are the dirtiest sites in terms of pounds of debris removed per cleanup. The types of debris found during river cleanups include larger items such as furniture, appliances, car parts and construction waste, which indicates dumping activities. Beach cleanup debris is comprised of mostly plastic food packaging materials and other plastic materials associated with recreational activities.

Secondly, establishing baseline data allows organizations and jurisdictions to measure the effectiveness and impact of education, outreach, and prevention efforts. We know the majority of marine debris is comprised of plastic materials (60% or more) and comes from land based sources, predominantly non-point source pollution. Widespread education and outreach efforts are key pieces to prevention efforts that reduce the amount of debris. However, traditionally it is very difficult to measure these types of efforts. Baseline marine debris data can help us see trends over time that can give us important clues as to whether or not these prevention efforts are having an impact.

Another important part of the discussion around marine debris data that must be taken into consideration is the accuracy of the data. There are many factors that complicate the process of collecting data. These factors include non-regular cleanup and data collection schedules, variations in the strength of the volunteer force at each cleanup (volunteer hours per area cleaned), consistent turn-over of the volunteer force (many volunteers only participate once or twice), and overlapping cleanup efforts (i.e. volunteers vs. maintenance crews) and the variations in the cleanup methods used (i.e. maintenance crews do not collect data). Additionally, this data set is in its initial stages, which makes it hard to discern trends. The data set will become more valuable the longer the sites are monitored and as the area monitored expands (Santa Cruz County vs. Monterey Bay region vs. California).