Lesson 8: Start a Ship-to-Shore Trash-collection Program

Lesson Information

Summary: Students in coastal communities take action against ocean litter by initiating a program to discourage the dumping of garbage at sea.
Duration: Several hours or more
Group size: Any
Materials: Paper and paints to create posters; letter-writing materials

Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

• Describe ways in which human communities can help ocean communities through action projects.
• Demonstrate stewardship of ocean communities by completing an action project.

Background

There may not be any roads on the ocean, but there sure is a lot of traffic. About 35,000 ships and 1.2 million fishing boats sail the world's seas. Millions more barges, motor boats, sailboats, and smaller craft also travel the ocean. Most of them pollute. Many ships and pleasure craft discharge sewage and other waste-water directly into the ocean. Others are involved in accidental spills of oil and toxic chemicals. Some boaters routinely toss their garbage overboard, adding tonnes of plastic containers, cans, old fishing nets, and other materials that persist for decades in marine environments, entangling and choking ocean wildlife. For more information on the many types of marine debris and their impacts on wildlife, see Lesson 9: Organize a Beach Sweep.

Most people who throw garbage into the ocean are not trying to harm wildlife. They are usually unaware of the harmful effects of their actions. After all, it's hard to imagine that a six-pack ring or plastic bag could make a difference to a such a vast ecosystem as the ocean. Perhaps there are no alternative trash-disposal systems for boaters in your community. Local marinas don't always provide garbage drop-off facilities or sewage-pumping facilities. If you live in a marine community, maybe you can help find a solution by encouraging people to bring their garbage and sewage back to shore for proper disposal.

Procedure

1. Discuss the problem of marine debris and pollution with your class (for more background information, see Lesson 9: Organize a Beach Sweep). Explain that some people contribute to this problem because they aren't  aware of the negative effects of dumping at sea or because their community lacks adequate garbage-disposal facilities.
2. Do a little research by calling local marinas, port authorities, municipal agencies, and resource-management departments. Determine the scope of the problem in your community. Find out what waste-disposal facilities, if any, are currently available for boaters. Learn if any public-education campaigns are being run by local groups.
3. If there is a local group running a program, ask organizers how you might get involved. Otherwise, you may wish to start your own "ship-to-shore" waste-disposal campaign with the cooperation of local agencies and marinas.
4. Brainstorm ways in which you can help. Ideas might include raising awareness, lobbying local authorities, providing trash receptacles, and arranging regular garbage pick-up.
5. Approach marinas, port authorities, and municipal governments. Get their ideas and support from the outset.
6. Have students create their own fact-sheets, brochures, and posters describing the effects of ocean litter on wildlife and encouraging boaters to bring their garbage back to shore for proper disposal. Put up posters (with permission) in public places frequented by boaters. Make brochures available in the same locations.
7. Ask marinas, port authorities, and municipal governments to make garbage collection, recycling, and sewage pumping facilities available for boaters. The more convenient and visible these facilities are, the more likely people will be to bring their garbage ashore.
8. Consider other ways of getting the message out, such as creating a display or writing to a community newspaper.

Evaluation

Evaluate brochures, fact-sheets, posters, and other media developed by students to raise public awareness. Evaluate messages for clarity, creativity, organization, and content.