Assessing And Monitoring Floatable Debris PDF Download

"This document includes guidelines for estimating debris concentrations on shorelines, in surface waters, during visual surveys at sea, and in the benthos. Background information is provided for each environmental compartment (i.e., shorelines, surface waters, and the seafloor), in addition to guidelines for survey design, required equipment, the survey techniques, and study implementation considerations. The appendices include a brief literature review for each compartment, survey data sheets, a debris item photo guide, frequently asked questions for shoreline surveys, and a summary of work completed by Versar, Inc. to test the methodologies. The techniques described in this document were developed over the course of a number of years, based on a review of the literature, discussions with experts, and field testing by the MDP and contractors. For shoreline monitoring, the MDP benefited from feedback from partner organizations who implemented these methods prior to the official publication of these guidelines. The guidelines in this document are intended for use by managers, researchers, citizen scientists, and other groups conducting marine debris survey and assessment activities, especially those requiring a rapid assessment. Monitoring and assessment of marine debris is essential to understanding the problem and being able to mitigate, prioritize, and prevent the most severe impacts. The effort to develop this document was rooted in the need to standardize methodologies and facilitate comparisons across time, space, and environmental compartments. These guidelines are provided to the marine debris community at large in order to guide the development of integrated monitoring programs nationwide"--Executive summary.