Marine Debris: NOAA's Role (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Revised Nov. 26, 2024 |
| Report Number |
IF10967 |
| Report Type |
In Focus |
| Authors |
Eva Lipiec, Linda Luther |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
Researchers have found marine debris, especially plastic
items, to have some effects on humans, wildlife, and the
environment, but the extent of these impacts is currently
unclear. Congress has directed the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) or the Secretary of
Commerce (through NOAA) to lead federal efforts to
address marine debris and has enacted additional marine
debris-related legislation in recent years. Some Members of
Congress periodically consider directing NOAA and other
federal agencies to take additional action to prevent and
address marine debris, domestically and internationally.
Congress has defined marine debris, also known as marine
litter and anthropogenic debris, to include “any persistent
solid material that is manufactured or processed and
directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally,
disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment or
the Great Lakes” (33 U.S.C. §1956). Marine debris can be
made of plastic, glass, metal, or wood. Plastic is the most
abundant type of marine debris in shoreline and oceanic
surveys. Plastic debris comes in a range of sizes and types,
from tiny pieces (microplastics) to larger items, such as
food wrappers, bottles, bags, foam materials, and fishing
gear (macroplastics).
Federal agencies identify microplastics as plastic particles
less than 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) in size, including
nanoplastics, which are less than 1 micrometer.
Microplastics can be categorized as primary or secondary.
Primary microplastics are manufactured as microbeads,
capsules, fibers, nurdles, or pellets and are used in
cosmetics, personal care products, industrial products, and
synthetic textiles. Secondary microplastics form through the
degradation and fragmentation of larger plastic items.
