title: Marine debris removal: one year of effort by the Georgia Sea Turtle-Center-Marine Debris Initiative.
abstract: Once in the marine environment, debris poses a significant threat to marine life that can be prevented through the help of citizen science. Marine debris is any manufactured item that enters the ocean regardless of source, commonly plastics, metal, wood, glass, foam, cloth, or rubber. Citizen science is an effective way to engage volunteers in conservation initiatives and provide education and skill development. The Georgia Sea Turtle Center Marine Debris Initiative (GSTC-MDI) is a grant funded program developed to engage citizens in the removal of marine debris from the beaches of Jekyll Island, GA, USA and the surrounding areas. During the first year of effort, more than 200 volunteers donated over 460 h of service to the removal of marine debris. Of the debris removed, approximately 89% were plastics, with a significant portion being cigarette materials. Given the successful first year, the GSTC-MDI was funded again for a second year.
authors.affiliation: Georgia Sea Turtle Center, 214 Stable Road, Jekyll Island, GA 31527, USA. Electronic address: jeanniem@jekyllisland.com.
authors.forename: Jeannie Miller
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D005845:Georgia; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis; D014426:Turtles; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014934:Wood / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D014866:Waste Products; D014873:Water Pollutants
keywords: Cigarette; Citizen science; GSTC-MDI; Jekyll Island; Marine Debris; Plastics