Proceedings of the Workshop on the Fate and Impact of Marine Debris Held at Honolulu, Hawaii on November 27-29, 1984

摘要

For the past decade, concern has been growing among scientists, fishermen, conservationists, and others over the markedly increased volume of marine debris apparent in the world's oceans. This form of marine pollution may be a particularly serious problem in the North Pacific Ocean, where an abundance of lost or discarded fishing gear and other nonfisheries-generated material, including cargo nets and plastic packing bands, may be contributing to the mortality of several marine species. These include marine mammals, notably northern fur seals and Hawaiian monk seals, marine turtles, seabirds, and fishes--organisms which may become entangled with or ingest man-made debris. This debris may also pose a potential threat to human safety as a result of fouling vessel propulsion systems.