Marine debris is a persistent pollution problem that reaches throughout the entire ocean and Great Lakes. This category of pollution encompasses any enduring manufactured substance that is purposefully or accidentally released, inadequately managed, or abandoned within marine settings. Our ocean and waterways are polluted with a wide variety of marine debris, ranging from tiny microplastics, smaller than 5 mm, to derelict fishing gear and abandoned vessels, as well as other materials such as textiles, rubber, glass, and metals. Each of these pollutants presents substantial threats to aquatic organisms, vital habitats, maritime safety, and the essential ecosystem services upon which coastal populations rely. Distributed via river systems, atmospheric transport, severe weather events, and circulating ocean currents, marine debris can find its way to even the most unlikely of places, like the Japanese Tsunami debris that washed ashore in Oregon and the plastic bag found at the bottom of the Mariana Trench. 

Within the framework of the “From Source to Sea: Understanding Marine Debris” theme, participants will explore the origins, movement patterns, and eventual fate of marine debris. The resources focus on the chemical, physical, and biological mechanisms that dictate how debris migrates and persists over time, as well as the consequences for marine populations, overall biodiversity, environmental health, and human welfare. Participants will further explore the socioeconomic repercussions of debris on sectors such as commercial fishing, aquaculture, maritime commerce, and tourism. Additionally, the theme investigates cutting-edge microplastic research, the impact of ghost fishing, the deterioration of habitats, and the development of new technologies designed for the identification, surveillance, and extraction of waste from the ocean.

Mitigating the marine debris crisis requires a coordinated, interdisciplinary strategy that integrates traditional scientific inquiry with grassroots community action, global policy-making, economic analysis, engineering innovation, and corporate responsibility. By studying the pathways of marine debris in conjunction with advancements in waste processing, product engineering, fishing gear, and international conservation treaties, students will learn how evidence-based research drives the critical choices required to safeguard our seas. This theme explores how interdisciplinary science facilitates the creation of solutions that protect marine life, bolster sustainable maritime industries, and foster a culture of conscientious global stewardship.