Rubbish Awareness in the Mangroves
By John Gray (Yai Ling)
Before my rant, hat’s
off to MAP staff Jim Enright, Thailand’s True Mangrove Hero. Without Jim, Thailand’s mangroves would be
disaster fulfilled. Jim turns plastic
junk into “Paradise Found”, Khap Khun
Mak Khrap, Sir Jim!
off to MAP staff Jim Enright, Thailand’s True Mangrove Hero. Without Jim, Thailand’s mangroves would be
disaster fulfilled. Jim turns plastic
junk into “Paradise Found”, Khap Khun
Mak Khrap, Sir Jim!
# # # # #
George H. Balazs Ph.D. brought marine
rubbish awareness to Hawai’i’ in the 1970’s. explaining that sea turtles
mistake drifting plastic bags for jellyfish – their favorite prey. Hawai’i is fairly clean, but does get hit
with pelagic and tourist rubbish. Balazs
autopsied numerous green sea turtles, finding up to two dozen plastic bags
clogging sea turtles’ digestive tracks, dooming his specimens to slow death. In
ocean-conscious Hawai’i this raised a red flag for marine rubbish
awareness. I already accepted the Green
Sea Turtle as my “Amakua” (family God), but Belazs amplified my passion for
collecting marine rubbish.
rubbish awareness to Hawai’i’ in the 1970’s. explaining that sea turtles
mistake drifting plastic bags for jellyfish – their favorite prey. Hawai’i is fairly clean, but does get hit
with pelagic and tourist rubbish. Balazs
autopsied numerous green sea turtles, finding up to two dozen plastic bags
clogging sea turtles’ digestive tracks, dooming his specimens to slow death. In
ocean-conscious Hawai’i this raised a red flag for marine rubbish
awareness. I already accepted the Green
Sea Turtle as my “Amakua” (family God), but Belazs amplified my passion for
collecting marine rubbish.
Today Hawai’i’s sea turtles are so
plentiful they are almost a pest, especially for surfers. The North Shore’s Laniakea Beach turtle
colony creates traffic jams, with docents guarding the turtles from human
contact. Such is the positive result of
a clean marine environment.
plentiful they are almost a pest, especially for surfers. The North Shore’s Laniakea Beach turtle
colony creates traffic jams, with docents guarding the turtles from human
contact. Such is the positive result of
a clean marine environment.
Long before my Amakua came along, my
Sierra Club family was onto the rubbish problem – in the 50’s we boated to
Catalina for the week-end, picked up rubbish from shipping along the way, At Catalina’s isthumus chances were we were
the only boat in the Bay,
Sierra Club family was onto the rubbish problem – in the 50’s we boated to
Catalina for the week-end, picked up rubbish from shipping along the way, At Catalina’s isthumus chances were we were
the only boat in the Bay,
Hawai’i is my “A’ina” (homeland) but Asia,
not Hawai’i, is where we win or lose the Planet.
not Hawai’i, is where we win or lose the Planet.
I researched South-East Asia and decided
Thailand was my most promising choice. I knew I was accepting an uphill battle,
but I didn’t know I was climbing Mount Everest.
Thailand was my most promising choice. I knew I was accepting an uphill battle,
but I didn’t know I was climbing Mount Everest.
I miss Hawai’i with
every heartbeat, but we are laying the groundwork for an Eco-Asia –
every heartbeat, but we are laying the groundwork for an Eco-Asia –
and Asia is where we
win or lose the Planet
win or lose the Planet
Leaving Hawai’i was
my life’s most difficult decision –I take it philosophically. Hawai’i has little marine rubbish, and for 26
years I’ve contributed to protecting the
Andaman Sea’s spectacular treasures.
my life’s most difficult decision –I take it philosophically. Hawai’i has little marine rubbish, and for 26
years I’ve contributed to protecting the
Andaman Sea’s spectacular treasures.
I go on my trips 3-4
days a week. The staff are so professional I disappear to stalk rubbish in my
favorite coves and crevasses. Wearing
dive booties and gloves, my paddle reaching into crevasses to encourage Styrofoam,
plastic bottles, plastic bags, toys and used tampons into the kayak, I often
pull three bags of rubbish from Phang Nga Bay in just one day.
days a week. The staff are so professional I disappear to stalk rubbish in my
favorite coves and crevasses. Wearing
dive booties and gloves, my paddle reaching into crevasses to encourage Styrofoam,
plastic bottles, plastic bags, toys and used tampons into the kayak, I often
pull three bags of rubbish from Phang Nga Bay in just one day.
My fingers are arthritic
after 26 years zig-zaging to collect rubbish.
Not so bad in a Sit-On-Top but a big strain in inflatables with two
guests. I did the inflatable edition for
20 years and give Big Thanks to SOTAR for the first 9,000 black bags. With my arthritic thumbs, I now paddle a
quick and maneuverable Ocean Kayaks Tetra Single with a back well that takes at
least a half bag before returning to our mother ship.
after 26 years zig-zaging to collect rubbish.
Not so bad in a Sit-On-Top but a big strain in inflatables with two
guests. I did the inflatable edition for
20 years and give Big Thanks to SOTAR for the first 9,000 black bags. With my arthritic thumbs, I now paddle a
quick and maneuverable Ocean Kayaks Tetra Single with a back well that takes at
least a half bag before returning to our mother ship.
Sometimes the job is
so big teamwork prevails. This recently
came to the fore when I discovered a sunken tree that fell from a cliff around
the point from the Park ranger station.
Covered with “ghost: fish nets propelled by the current, the tree was a
natural death trap for any marine animal.
I selected the lowest tides and
took my “Dirty Work” team to literally break the Gorgonian knot.
so big teamwork prevails. This recently
came to the fore when I discovered a sunken tree that fell from a cliff around
the point from the Park ranger station.
Covered with “ghost: fish nets propelled by the current, the tree was a
natural death trap for any marine animal.
I selected the lowest tides and
took my “Dirty Work” team to literally break the Gorgonian knot.
We started at high
tide, cleaning 12 bags of rubbish from the jungle behind the beach.
tide, cleaning 12 bags of rubbish from the jungle behind the beach.
As the tide dropped
the barnacle carpeted tree became bare, and so were our hands – gloves or
not. Wind and current obviously brought
trash to this point, so we left the tree to catch more rubbish, inviting
clean-ups for years to come. Perhaps one
day the Park Rangers will join the fray – Dream on!
the barnacle carpeted tree became bare, and so were our hands – gloves or
not. Wind and current obviously brought
trash to this point, so we left the tree to catch more rubbish, inviting
clean-ups for years to come. Perhaps one
day the Park Rangers will join the fray – Dream on!
Thailand’s beaches
are often backed by mangroves. Removing
the rubbish from roots and trunks is difficult.
I used to crawl on my hand and knees, but with a degenerated knee
(companion to my degenerated mind) I find it much easier to just to crawl on my
belly through the red ants, passing the plastic and Styrofoam to an assistant
behind me. The ants are a hassle but it’s
an efficient slog through deep mangroves.
are often backed by mangroves. Removing
the rubbish from roots and trunks is difficult.
I used to crawl on my hand and knees, but with a degenerated knee
(companion to my degenerated mind) I find it much easier to just to crawl on my
belly through the red ants, passing the plastic and Styrofoam to an assistant
behind me. The ants are a hassle but it’s
an efficient slog through deep mangroves.
I spray my entire
body with insect repellant –– and still wear swimming trunks. The bug juice doesn’t completely stop the
ants. When ants get into long pants it’s
a bitch getting them out when knee-deep in mud and mangrove roots.
body with insect repellant –– and still wear swimming trunks. The bug juice doesn’t completely stop the
ants. When ants get into long pants it’s
a bitch getting them out when knee-deep in mud and mangrove roots.
To maximize your extraction
effort, join with a school or service club – more hands to the rescue. We’ve done great work with the International
Business Association of Phuket – working with a village on remote Koh Yao Yai
taking about 50 bags of rubbish off their rocky point in just one day – while teaching
the children the evils of Marine Rubbish.
effort, join with a school or service club – more hands to the rescue. We’ve done great work with the International
Business Association of Phuket – working with a village on remote Koh Yao Yai
taking about 50 bags of rubbish off their rocky point in just one day – while teaching
the children the evils of Marine Rubbish.
Every year the British
International School finances a clean-up with their high schoolers. We survey in advance, looking for heavily polluted
sand beaches backed by mangroves. This year’s
effort was adjacent to a huge Five Star resort.
The resort created the rubbish but ignored our offer of cooperation –
although our clean-up was literally next to their beach. It was strange crawling on my belly through
mangrove roots carpeted with Styrofoam and red ant colonies – retrieving, water
bottles, wine bottles and plastic utensils from the resort while a cautious hotel
staff stood by making sure these crazy Farang didn’t sneak into the hotel.
International School finances a clean-up with their high schoolers. We survey in advance, looking for heavily polluted
sand beaches backed by mangroves. This year’s
effort was adjacent to a huge Five Star resort.
The resort created the rubbish but ignored our offer of cooperation –
although our clean-up was literally next to their beach. It was strange crawling on my belly through
mangrove roots carpeted with Styrofoam and red ant colonies – retrieving, water
bottles, wine bottles and plastic utensils from the resort while a cautious hotel
staff stood by making sure these crazy Farang didn’t sneak into the hotel.
In this scenario
efficient teamwork wins. One rubbish zealot crawls on their stomach through the
roots, tossing as much rubbish as possible back while the “sweeper” bags the
rubbish.
efficient teamwork wins. One rubbish zealot crawls on their stomach through the
roots, tossing as much rubbish as possible back while the “sweeper” bags the
rubbish.
Step-By-Step, marine
rubbish awareness gains momentum. Still,
only a small minority “get it”. Most are Westerners like Jim. A pleasant surprise is Southern Thai Moken
(indigenous seafarers) are extremely environmental – unfortunately their
Burmese brethren dump rubbish anywhere
rubbish awareness gains momentum. Still,
only a small minority “get it”. Most are Westerners like Jim. A pleasant surprise is Southern Thai Moken
(indigenous seafarers) are extremely environmental – unfortunately their
Burmese brethren dump rubbish anywhere
We employ 40 Thai
guides. Guest comments praise these
guides for collecting rubbish – no easy task in a wide berth inflatable kayak
with two “farang” (Western) adults slowing things down.
guides. Guest comments praise these
guides for collecting rubbish – no easy task in a wide berth inflatable kayak
with two “farang” (Western) adults slowing things down.
On the downside, few if
any competitors collect marine rubbish – they just contribute to the problem. Some
even label their plastic water bottles so we know who tossed what into the sea.
any competitors collect marine rubbish – they just contribute to the problem. Some
even label their plastic water bottles so we know who tossed what into the sea.
Thailand’s Marine
National Parks Department does nothing – except collecting the B400 person
entry fee (about $12/person). Phang
Nga’s Deputy
National Parks Department does nothing – except collecting the B400 person
entry fee (about $12/person). Phang
Nga’s Deputy
Director did show once
– in his well-pressed Uniform – for a University clean-up to flirt with the
students.
– in his well-pressed Uniform – for a University clean-up to flirt with the
students.
He picked up – – –
nothing.
nothing.
Phang Nga Bay is
downwind and downstream from the famous James Bond Island tourist trap, where
venders sell carved seashells while hosting horrified baby gibbons on their
shoulders. When the vendors make a sale,
they often pull out extra plastic bags that swirl into the wind – eventually drifting
down to the sea caves.
downwind and downstream from the famous James Bond Island tourist trap, where
venders sell carved seashells while hosting horrified baby gibbons on their
shoulders. When the vendors make a sale,
they often pull out extra plastic bags that swirl into the wind – eventually drifting
down to the sea caves.
Village fishermen
often take families in the longtails, throwing plastic and tampons overboard
(retrieving used Tampons is great fun!):
National Parks does nothing to educate villagers of the evils of marine
rubbish – which decorates the mangroves adjanent to the villages.
often take families in the longtails, throwing plastic and tampons overboard
(retrieving used Tampons is great fun!):
National Parks does nothing to educate villagers of the evils of marine
rubbish – which decorates the mangroves adjanent to the villages.
We are successful
with local private school clean-ups, particularly British International
School-Phuket, whose commitment includes paying for their annual student clean-up. I taught “Coastal Tourism Management” at
Prince of Songkla University and we did many clean-ups, some with local TV
coverage. I took off a semester to make
a documentary and the Professor who stole my class has never done one.
with local private school clean-ups, particularly British International
School-Phuket, whose commitment includes paying for their annual student clean-up. I taught “Coastal Tourism Management” at
Prince of Songkla University and we did many clean-ups, some with local TV
coverage. I took off a semester to make
a documentary and the Professor who stole my class has never done one.
It’s a tough slog –
one that will not end in our lifetime.
On every Hong by Starlight trip I know I can count on one full rubbish
bag – Styrofoam, plastic parts, toys, hairbrushes – you name it. If it floats, it ends up in my kayak. As I write I’m looking at my latest souvenir
– a black rubber bucket encrusted in barnacles and sea shells.
one that will not end in our lifetime.
On every Hong by Starlight trip I know I can count on one full rubbish
bag – Styrofoam, plastic parts, toys, hairbrushes – you name it. If it floats, it ends up in my kayak. As I write I’m looking at my latest souvenir
– a black rubber bucket encrusted in barnacles and sea shells.
Obviously this
commitment wreaks havoc to your golf game (I prefer kayaking) but the numbers
speak for themselves – It takes a small Styrofoam cup about 50 years to
decompose; 200 years for an aluminum can and 450 years for a plastic
bottle.
commitment wreaks havoc to your golf game (I prefer kayaking) but the numbers
speak for themselves – It takes a small Styrofoam cup about 50 years to
decompose; 200 years for an aluminum can and 450 years for a plastic
bottle.
That’s a great legacy
to leave our offspring.
to leave our offspring.
######
Marine Debris Biodegradation Time Line
Item | Time to degrade | |
Paper towel | 2-4 weeks | |
Newspaper | 6 weeks | |
Cardboard box | 2 months | |
Waxed milk carton | 3 months | |
Apple core | 2 months | |
Cotton gloves | 1-5 months | |
Wool gloves | 1 year | |
Plywood | 1-3 years | |
Painted wooden sticks | 13 years | |
Photo-degradable beverage holder | 6 months | |
Plastic beverage holder | 400 years | |
Plastic bags | 10-20 years | |
Plastic bottle | 100 years | |
Glass bottle and jars | undetermined | |
Disposable diapers | 50-100 years | |
Tin can | 50 years | |
Aluminum can | 200 years | |
Monofilament fishing line | 600 years | |
(Mote Marine Laboratory, 1993) | ||
Item | Time to degrade | |
Paper towel | 2-4 weeks | |
Newspaper | 6 weeks | |
Cardboard box | 2 months | |
Waxed milk carton | 3 months | |
Apple core | 2 months | |
Cotton gloves | 1-5 months | |
Wool gloves | 1 year | |
Plywood | 1-3 years | |
Painted wooden sticks | 13 years | |
Photo-degradable beverage holder | 6 months | |
Plastic beverage holder | 400 years | |
Plastic bags | 10-20 years | |
Plastic bottle | 100 years | |
Glass bottle and jars | undetermined | |
Disposable diapers | 50-100 years | |
Tin can | 50 years | |
Aluminum can | 200 years | |
Monofilament fishing line | 600 years | |
(Mote Marine Laboratory, 1993) | ||
Item | Time to degrade | |
Paper towel | 2-4 weeks | |
Newspaper | 6 weeks | |
Cardboard box | 2 months | |
Waxed milk carton | 3 months | |
Apple core | 2 months | |
Cotton gloves | 1-5 months | |
Wool gloves | 1 year | |
Plywood | 1-3 years | |
Painted wooden sticks | 13 years | |
Photo-degradable beverage holder | 6 months | |
Plastic beverage holder | 400 years | |
Plastic bags | 10-20 years | |
Plastic bottle | 100 years | |
Glass bottle and jars | undetermined | |
Disposable diapers | 50-100 years | |
Tin can | 50 years | |
Aluminum can | 200 years | |
Monofilament fishing line | 600 years | |
(Mote Marine Laboratory, 1993) References – http://www.global-waste.de/plastic.html | ||