See you at the beach!

What are you most likely to find at the beach?

A.) monsters

B.) B.) sandcastles

C.) C.) lots of garbage

Litter or garbage is waste that is not properly disposed of. Litter comes in all shapes, sizes, and can be found anywhere. Litter could be: food wrapper tossed on the ground; paper dropped on a trail; drink cans left at a picnic site; cigarette butts flicked out of a car window; food wastes such as peels, apple cores, and yes, including betel nut.

Litter does not only ruin our beautiful beaches, it can also cause physical harm. A broken glass or sharp metals at the beach or along the pathway or neighborhood streets can hurt our families. Often times, tall sword grass (known as sakati in Chamorro; or sakkati in Carolinian) hide debris and not only do we find gum or other food wrapper, we also find sharp, heavy objects such as car parts or household items.

Marine debris is another way of labeling the trash that gets into the marine environment due to careless handling or disposal.

The two primary problems that marine debris poses to wildlife are entanglement and ingestion.

Entanglement results when an animal become encircled or ensnared by debris. Entanglement can occur accidentally, or when the animal is attracted to the debris as part of its normal behavior or out of curiosity. For example, an animal may try to use a piece of marine debris for shelter or as a plaything, or as a source of food

Entanglement is harmful to wildlife for several reasons. Not only can entanglement cause wounds that can lead to infections or loss of limbs, but it may also choke or strangle wildlife. In addition, entanglement can impair an animal’s ability to swim, which can cause drowning or difficulty in moving, finding food, and escaping predators.

Ingestion occurs when an animal swallows marine debris. Ingestion sometimes happens accidentally, but generally animals feed on debris because it looks like food. Ingestion can lead to starvation or malnutrition if the ingested items block the intestinal tract and prevent digestion, or accumulate in the digestive tract and make the animal feel “full,” lessening its desire to feed. Ingestion of sharp objects can damage the digestive tract or stomach lining and cause infection or pain. Ingested items may also block air passages and prevent breathing, which suffocates animals.

 Marine mammals, turtles, birds, fish, and crustaceans all have been entangled in or have eaten marine debris. Many of the species most vulnerable to the problems of marine debris are endangered or threatened. Endangered species are plants or animals that are in immediate danger of becoming extinct because their population levels are so low. Threatened species are plants and animals that may become endangered in the near future.

Now that you know the dangers of littering, I want to remind you that it’s also illegal. A person found to be littering can be fined $500. In addition to the fine, the person found guilty of littering may be ordered to remove litter in public places or pay for its removal out of their own pocket.

Here are some tips for going to the beach:

1) Reduce waste by bringing food in reusable containers instead of disposable containers.

2) Dispose of your garbage in proper receptacles.

3) Bring extra garbage bags – especially when the bins at picnic sites are already full.

4) Pack your trash. It’s better to leave a beach cleaner than you arrived than adding to the unsightly

5) And my personal favorite: Volunteer! Several government and community-based organizations organize cleanups.

-Beautify CNMI, 285- 6462, www.beautfycnmi.com

-Coastal Resources Management, 664-8300, www.crm.gov.mp

-Division of Environmental Quality, 664-8500, www.deq.gov.mp

-Mariana Islands Nature Alliance, mina@minapacific.org