First of all, a big thank you to the dedicated volunteers who came out to collect data, field test microplastic sifting techniques and remove meso- and microplastic debris from Nye Beach.
Using water separation to sort debris.
This event was unlike other beach cleanups because we weren't focused on collecting as much debris as we could find. Instead, we focused on a 100-meter transect parallel to the ocean in the most recent high tide line. The transect started at Nye Creek and went North for 100-meters. Flags were placed every 10 meters and volunteers surveyed each section looking for debris smaller than 1-inch. Debris was kept, analyzed and photographed. Other volunteers tested meso- and microplastic debris collection methods in the dry sand dunes further inshore. While we only collected a few pounds of debris total, I'm excited to continue collecting data over the summer! Click Read More for results.
In our 100-meter transect 153 total pieces of meso- and microplastic debris was collected.
Mesoplastic fragments: 97 total pieces
Microplastic fragments: 45 total pieces
Cigarette butts are also included in the mesoplastic debris as they are usually one inch or smaller in size.
While this debris below was not 'officially' counted as meso- or microplastic debris (except the earplug) I think it's important to show the weird debris that can be found on our beaches. I've included size measurements for a sense of scale.
No pictures were taken of the debris collected on the backshore (dry sand) but I hope these pictures illustrate just how much debris can be found on a very small section of beach. There's no reason we should be finding CO2 cannisters, earplugs, or deli ham tape on our beaches. Please look at these pictures and use it as a reminder to keep our beaches free of debris so that we all may enjoy them.
If you have any questions/comments/concerns please email Sage at beachcleanups@newport.or.surfrider.org