New Hampshire beaches may look generally clean, but there's a big threat posed by tiny microplastics. Microplastics are defined as plastics between 1-5mm in size. They may be fragments of degraded larger plastic debris, synthetic fibers, or microbeads from cosmetics and toothpaste. We learn about research studying the prevalence of this microscopic debris on New Hampshire beaches, the threat it poses to marine ecosystems, and what we can do about it.
GUESTS:
- Gabriela Bradt - Fisheries Specialist, UNH Cooperative Extension andNH Sea Grant
- Jennifer Kennedy - Executive Director, Blue Ocean Society -She is the survey director for the marine debris monitoring program at Jenness Beach, and coordinates the NOAA-funded Marine Debris to Energy Project, which is conducted in partnership with NH Sea Grant and UNH Cooperative Extension.
Click on this link to learn more about Blue Ocean Society beach clean-ups.