How Can I Help Keep Our Mid-Atlantic Coastal Waters Clean?

National Information

On this page

Prevent Pollution
Become an Oceanographer

Prevent Pollution

The most effective way to reduce pollution of coastal waters is through prevention. While efforts such as improving sewage treatment plants and stopping direct discharges of raw sewage into the water are the responsibility of local governments, there are a number of things individuals can do to help:

conserve water
dispose of boat sewage in onshore sanitary facilities
properly dispose of animal waste from pets; do not leave it on the ground or throw it down a storm drain
use pesticides and fertilizers sparingly and correctly; compost organic waste
get involved in a local beach clean-up effort
participate in EPA's Citizen's Volunteer Monitoring Program
help restore disturbed areas with native vegetation
properly dispose of toxic substances like oil-based paint and paint thinners, automotive fluids and batteries, and cleaning products by taking them to household hazardous waste collection days or appropriate collection sites (note that when motor oil is poured onto soil, 4/5 ths of that oil continues down into the groundwater, contaminating it; then that groundwater makes it way into rivers and estuaries, and eventually into coastal waters)
maintain your septic tank if you have one with frequent pumping, proper drain field maintenance, and careful waste disposal; this will prolong the life of your system and prevent discharge of untreated sewage to ground and surface waters by allowing adequate time for the breakdown of organics
pick up litter when you see it and properly dispose of your trash

Marine Debris

Cigarette butts, grocery bags, scraps of fishing nets, foam coffee cups, fast food containers, soda bottles, rope, six-pack rings, balloons and balloon ribbons are some of the types of materials that can be found floating in the ocean. And, as the coastal population has risen and society has turned from degradable natural materials to synthetic ones, the trash problem in the ocean has gotten worse. The primary sources of ocean debris include storm sewers, illegal dumping, littering, balloon releases, commercial and recreational boats, and commercial shipping.

coastal debris Debris is a problem for a number of reasons:

Debris can snare boat propellers or clog cooling water intakes, causing substantial damage to boat motors.
Pieces of glass and metal can cut beachgoers and wildlife.
Sewage and medical wastes can contaminate beach waters and sicken swimmers.
Marine animals can become caught in discarded fishing nets and lines, grocery bags, six-pack rings, ribbons, and other floating debris.
Some animals mistakenly eat the man-made materials. Endangered sea turtles, for example, consume floating trash bags and balloons, likely mistaking them for jellyfish. Several seabird species have been found to swallow plastic pieces and cigarette butts. These materials can damage the animals' digestive systems. In addition, animals may stop eating because their stomachs feel full and starve to death.
Tourists may not visit shore areas that have debris on the beaches and in the water, causing an economic hardship.

Find out how to participate in the National Marine Debris Monitoring Program , a joint effort of EPA and the Center for Marine Conservation. This program has been designed to scientifically determine whether marine debris is increasing or decreasing along our nation's coastlines and identify the major sources of the debris.

Become an Oceanographer

Oceanography is a multidisciplinary science, combining knowledge from many fields such as biology, geology, chemistry, physics, and engineering. Most jobs in oceanography require a college degree. If you are a person who likes many of the sciences, oceanography may be for you.

Because many jobs in oceanography require trips on ships, boating experience and a high tolerance to motion sickness is desirable. Certification as a scuba diver is also helpful.

Many oceanographers work for the government, for non-profit organizations, and for universities teaching or doing research. Corporations also hire oceanographers to help explore for oil off-shore, to help design equipment used in the ocean, to help develop new medicines from materials found in the ocean, etc.

Learn more about becoming an oceanographer:

The National Marine Sanctuaries Spotlight On: Ocean Careers.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is a private, non-profit research institution for the marine sciences and the training of marine scientists.

Mid-Atlantic Region | Mid-Atlantic Env'l Assessment & Innovation | Mid-Atlantic Coast

How Can I Help Keep Our Mid-Atlantic Coastal Waters Clean?

National Information

Prevent Pollution

Become an Oceanographer

Local Navigation