1992 Marine Debris Survey Report, GUIS

United States Department of Interior

Results are presented from four quarterly marine debris surveys conducted at Gulf Islands National Seashore (GUIS) during FY 1992. Survey zones include five 1 km study beaches located on Santa Rosa Island (FL) , Perdido Key (FL), Horn Island (MS) and West Ship Island (MS). In FY 1992 a total of 13,090 items, the second lowest number recorded since the survey began in 1989, was recorded, 83 percent consisting of plastics. The greatest amountof plastic debris was picked up during the summer survey. The 10 most abundant plastics in rank order were (1) foam fragments, (2) hard fragments, (3) caps and lids, (4) bottles less than one gallon, (5) bags less than one meter square, (6) plastic sheeting less than one meter square, (7) smoking accessories, (8) rope fragments less than one meter, (9) food containers and (10) foam cups. By category 48% of the plastic debris was documented as miscellaneous, 34% packaging, 9% personal, and 8% fishing. Plastic debris was traceable to Venezuela and Mexico. Three dead animals were found in the Mississippi sites: a saltwater catfish in a plastic bag, a trigger fish in a plastic bottle, and a gull wrapped in plastic line. Medical debris wasnegligible. The most nonplastic debris was metal (7 %). Weather patterns including the storm surge of Hurricane Andrew, higher than normal rainfall on the mainland areas, and fewer commercial shrimping licenses, plus near shore current, shoreline growth and erosion, and offshore and onshore activities influenced the dispersion and amount of marine debris.