Marine debris survey annual report

Yanish, Howard

This report is for the Marine Debris Survey year of 1991 which includes 4 surveys of 5 beach transects. Surveys were conducted in December of 1990, March, June and September of 1991. A total of 9,290 items were surveyed, 97% of which were plastics. ... The most abundance non-plastic items were glass, metal and other at 1% each during 1991. ... To this point, I have not been able to determine a pattern related to the variation of the distribution of surveyed items on the transects. The last significant storm prior to the survey seems to be the main factor in distribution and abundance of items surveyed. The stage of the tide, wind direction and seasonal current variations during the storm would have to all be considered to arrive at any patterns or trends.