Blog Action Day: What's wrong with this picture?

Today is Blog Action Day. Thousands of bloggers around the world are uniting today to address environmental issues. As divers and ocean lovers, we have a particular concern for the marine environment. We'd like to show you a few examples of how marine debris -- from large items to small -- degrade the marine environment.

If "a picture says a thousand words," then here are 3000 words about why you should do your part to reduce marine debris:

A discarded tire spoils a pretty reef scene.



A derelict fishing net completely smothers this reef.



Even small bits of debris can do damage.

Here a newspaper chokes a lovely soft coral.


These are only a few examples of marine debris that we have seen underwater. Most people don't think about marine debris because they can't see it. Believe us -- it's there, and most of it stays there forever to damage the marine environment by entangling wildlife and smothering reefs. Click here for tips on how you can do your part to reduce marine debris.

For more information, visit the NOAA page about marine debris.
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22 comments:

  1. A very telling photo and an excellent post in support of Blog Action Day.
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  2. Thanks you, Cindy. Like I said, most people have NO idea what's under the surface of the water -- not just the pretty stuff, but the ugly stuff, too.

    Bobbie
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  3. When you see the amount of garbage on the beach itself, it is not hard to imagine how much would be under the water, we live on the Shenandoah River in Va and there is an amazing amt of trash under water.
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  4. Hi Jean -

    Participate in a beach or shoreline clean-up some time. The amount of trash that can be gathered up in just a single day is staggering.

    Bobbie
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  5. Didn't even know that there was so much marine debris affecting the ocean. Good post on a very important topic. This stuff must have a negative impact on the sealife, which is not good. A cleanup is definitely necessary.
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  6. Hi Nicole -

    Yes it does have a negative effect on marine life. Fish and other creatures sometimes eat plastic items mistaking it for food, and the plastic then blocks their digestive systems. We've also seen sea turtles who have lost flippers because of entanglements in discarded fishing line. It's a very sad sight.

    Bobbie
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  7. thanks bobbie for picking up on that topic. just watched the other day on tv where marine biologists said all the stomachs of sea gulls & ocean critters show plastic, not to mention the oil spills which kill the birds slowly because their feathers stick together and they can't fly anymore. thanks for raising awareness. pua.
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  8. Thanks for sharing that, Pua. We've been lucky here in Hawaii recently in that there have not been any serious oil spills.

    Bobbie
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  9. This is an excellent post for today, and your images speak volumes. It must be hard for you to view these beautiful corals being damaged as they are so helpless and cannot avoid it by swimming away. It is saddening.
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  10. Hi Kathy -

    Thanks for stopping by. What you say is exactly true. It is saddening to see things like this one the reef.

    Bobbie
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  11. I was shocked to find out how much garbage is thrown off ships that eventually wash up onshore.
    I was in the Florida Keys and came across an amazing pile of garbage on the beach, when I asked if this came from onshore I was told by locals nearly all the garbage on the beaches came from ships out at sea.
    Sad!!
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  12. Bernie -

    Actually only a small percentage of what is tossed overboard from ships and boats ever washes ashore. As unsightly as it is when it litters the shoreline, most of it stays in the sea -- unseen by most people, but there nonetheless.

    Bobbie
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  13. Well done, Bobbie! I think those pictures value even a lot higher than 1000 words each! WtG!
    -Jos:)
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  14. Your blog is so beautiful. A photo can be an instant reminder of how we are going wrong. Great post for blog action day.
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  15. Fantastic post! Having done some diving when i was young, i have seen first hand the impact of wanton disposal of trash especially plastic and rubber, has on marine life.

    Together with over-harvesting of the oceans for food and oil pollution, one does wonder what will be the state of our oceans in 20..30 years time.

    Hope tons of readers read your post to raise the awareness factor. Regards.
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  16. Thank you Jos and Claire. Glad you liked the photos.

    MyDen, you have done a good job of raising awareness of marine environmental issues with your Blog Action Day post, too.

    For those who have not seen it, go have a look at MyDen's article about the effects of global warming on polar bears.
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  17. Many years ago an acquaintance told me about a small, unpopulated island they stopped at when sailing in the south Pacific. It must have been right in an ocean current or something because the beaches were littered with debris that must have come from hundreds or thousands of miles away. I remember her saying that one of the most numerous things were those old plastic rings of plastic with the six holders that held 6 packs of cans together.

    Then when I was fishing on a charter boat a few months later, the captain emptied his trash can over the side of the boat. I told him about the island and, according to his deck hands, he never did that again. Only one person and a small change, but still was progress at the time.

    -Will
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  18. Thanks for your thoughtful comment, Will. Interesting that you mentioned those plastic six-pack rings. We've seen them frequently underwater (and when we do, we pick them up and bring them ashore). Marine life, including our dear sea turtles, have been found with those plastic six-pack rings around their heads or limbs.

    Tip: When you throw those away in your trash, take a second to snip the rings so that if they end up in the sea, at LEAST they won't ensnare an unsuspecting critter. Sometimes it really is the small things that can make a difference.

    Bobbie
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  19. Thank you for spreading such awareness. Back in the Sultanate of Oman, we have different communities who arrange such trips to clean the beaches especially during holidays when most of the people have time to spare and are up to earning good deeds.

    I would like to take this chance to announce that you are chosen to represent your country in the first international blog from its kind; Worldwide Photographers.

    With your contribution, we can build the most comprehensive source of online photo gallery. Since photography is a huge learning tool about the world around us; hence, you can use this blog to showcase the world we live in and represent your country.

    If you are agree to join us please send an e-mail with your name, age, country and your blog address on meticulousness@gmail.com to receive and invitation.

    Thank you for the comment Bobbie, hope you’d drop by more often.

    Metic
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  20. That was very kind of you, Boobie, many thanks.

    I have always been in two minds about starting another blog on an issue close to my heart - global warming and environmental degradations, but due to time constraints have never got round to it.

    Now that i have started with BlogActionDay, i think i will be incorporating posts on environmental issues on my current blog henceforth. Just felt that raising awareness of environmental issues should not stop after BlogActionDay.

    By the way, not so much for the purpose of reciprocating your kind gesture but to direct readers to what i felt was an extremely well-presented post, i have done some amendments on my post, with a link to yours. Take care.
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  21. Hi Bobbie,
    Great pick for blog action day! We see this stuff under water all the time and it just breaks your heart. We pick up what we can and if we can't we get some people/equipment together to get it out, but there's always more...
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  22. @ Meticulousness - We'll be visiting your photography site again, and we encourage our readers to go and have a look as well.

    @ My Den - Thank you very much for linking to this post. We all need to work together to raise awareness about these issues.

    @ Curacao -- Yes, it does break your heart to see this stuff. Like you, we pick up whatever we can when we see it. Thanks for visiting.

    Bobbie & Jerry
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We welcome your comments and invite your questions. Dialogue is a good thing!

Bobbie & Jerry

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