Proceedings of the Untangled symposium: - WSPA

Annex 4Submitted abstracts accompanyingposter presentationsMarine Patrol. In New Hampshire, the trap can betouched only by a conservation officer or the lobsterman.Annually, we involve thousands of volunteers in cleanups,and many are frustrated by the prevalence of traps onthe beach and their inability to help clean them up due tothese private property laws.In 2012, we surveyed and cleaned-up several of theIsles of Shoals, nine islands located 5 miles offshore onthe border of Maine and New Hampshire. Initial surveysof four of the nine islands revealed a large amount ofdebris, including lobster traps and rope. In June 2012,we conducted a cleanup at Appledore Island, Maine, withassistance from a local fisherman and a Maine MarinePatrol officer. Of the 12 traps found on the island, 10were deemed unfishable, and 2 were left on the island fortheir owners to retrieve. In August 2012, we cleaned StarIsland and White Island with the help of a fisherman, NHMarine Patrol and several volunteers. NH Marine Patrolsent an officer to inspect traps on White Island. Seventyninetraps were collected, and 3 were returned to theirowner. The White Island cleanup required the presenceof the marine patrol officer, while the Star Island cleanupoccurred with permission granted via phone.Key factors to project success: the fortuitous availabilityof marine patrol officers on 2 of our cleanup days.We attempted another cleanup of Appledore Island inSeptember, but the Maine Marine Patrol officer wasunreachable. Timing seemed to be everything with thesecleanups, and building relationships and a rapportwith these agencies is essential for a successfulcleanup effort.Challenges: While it is admirable that laws exist toprotect private property, there is no law requiringfishermen to retrieve lost gear or that determines whentraps can be considered abandoned. There are no closedseasons in Maine or New Hampshire, so there is no timewhen traps in the water can automatically assume tobe abandoned. Limited funding and staffing for marinepatrol means that while we feel cleanups are a priority,they are not always a possibility.Recommendations: Establish connections with relevantagencies early in the project and continue to developthose relationships.Literature CitedGlenn, R. P., Whitmore, K. A., & Perry, D. N. (2012).Impacts of ghost fishing from American lobster traps.Presentation to the 2012 New England Derelict FishingGear Workshop, Portland, ME, February 28, 2012.Mattila, D. K. & Lyman, E. (2010). A note on theentanglement of large whales in marine debris. Workshopon welfare issues associated with the entanglementof large whales, April 13-15, 2010, Hawaiian IslandsHumpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Maui,Hawaii, USA. Retrieved 12/02/2013 from: http://www.iwcoffice.org/disentanglementsReduction and Impacts of Plastic litter in NigeriaCoastal Communities.Oshisanya, K. I. and Adegbile, O. M.Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine ResearchP.M.B 12729 Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeriakharphioshi@yahoo.comThe problem of marine litter is a common problem forcoastal local communities and other organizationsthroughout the world, studies and surveys employingmany different methodologies have been undertaken overthe years to assess the problem. Collecting data on thevolumes, types, origin, weight and other factors relatingto plastic litter and its impact on marine organisms is arather novel research in Nigeria. A survey of Folu andMagbon Alade in 2010 and 2008, both coastal fishingcommunities, located on the Western flank of Lagos,Nigeria revealed that waste disposal practice is very pooras refuse is disposed indiscriminately in the community.The beachfront is used as a waste dump sites for litterand rotten fish because waste collectors do not cometo these communities. Ingested plastic litter is quitecommon in samples of dead and captured seabirdsand turtles, The known effects of ingestion of plasticlitter by birds and sea turtles include reduction in theabsorption of nutrients in the gut, reducing the amountof space for food in the gizzard and stomach, ulcerationof tissue and blockage of the digestive processes.Cases of entanglement of sea turtles by discardedfishing gears rendering them unable to feed or swim arequite common. Unfortunately the marine litter menace is44