Marine Debris: What is it?

ma•rine de•bris  |  \mər-'rēn də-ˈbrē\  |  noun 
1. any persistent man-made, solid material that is processed or manufactured and enters a waterway; materials that are abandoned or disposed of, intentionally and unintentionally  2. litter released into a lake, waterway, ocean, or any part of the ​marine environment;  also known as marine litter

The first challenge in a sea turtle's life... 
​
Plastic: it’s everywhere. You have seen disturbing images of beaches covered in plastic bags, flip flops, foam boxes, and piles of other waste. The problem does not stop where the beaches end: all of the worlds oceans, rivers, and streams are connected, and ultimately plastics are carried to all corners of our planet. Can we point a finger elsewhere for a cause than ourselves? No. Plastic is in the clothing we wear and the toothpaste we use every day, it's in our phones and in the dishes we eat dinner off of. The uncomfortable reality is that the world is addicted to plastic. ​At a rate of 8 million metric tons per year, these non-biodegradable materials end up poisoning our oceans.
...should not be to fight ​through a sea of plastics.

​Plastic waste and other debris from the ocean can eventually wash up onto shore. Bonaire is no stranger to this issue. Debris carried along currents from South America accumulate on Bonaire’s east coast. With the growing severity of this problem, plastics and other marine debris are posing a huge risk to marine life health, and to the sustainability of preserving our entire ecosystem. Not only can marine life become entangled in the debris, they can also mistake it for food. Plastic slowly breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, which endangers and poisons the entire food chain. However, we can can make a difference and together we can work towards a Debris Free Bonaire.
Let’s team up to clean up!

Team Up to Clean Up

Our goal is straightforward: to reduce the amount of debris that enters our marine environment, and practice sustainable methods for promoting a healthy ocean for generations to come. Whether you are vacationing for the week, or lived on the island for years, we invite you join us in working towards a debris free Bonaire.

We organise collective clean up events, facilitate individual clean up initiatives, and create awareness about marine debris and what YOU can do to help solve the problem!
CLEAN UP EVENTS
Join us for any of our clean up events, and ​stop by one of our locations for a mesh ​bag on your way to the
​east coast
EDUCATION
Enhance your awareness about the
​marine environment by taking a
specialty ​course, such as
​Dive Against Debris
DO YOUR PART AT HOME
Check out tips and suggestions for simple actions you can take
at home to help conserve the
​marine environment

Clean Up Bonaire: The Essentials

Working towards a debris free Bonaire is easy! Wherever you go, make sure you are equipped with a bag to collect waste. Dedicate a small amount of time to collect waste material from Bonaire’s beaches and streets. Drop off the waste the next time you pass by an environmental station in Playa, Amboina, Hato, or Rincon, or at the Dive Friends Bonaire Hamlet Oasis Location.
​Then, you’re ready for the next round!

Debris Free Bonaire is a movement dedicated to reducing the amount of marine debris on and around Bonaire. We empower volunteers to work together in cleaning up and reporting debris, and to practice more sustainable actions in daily life that directly impact the health of our oceans and planet. Together, we can make a difference.
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