Marine debris

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/marine-debris

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the accumulation mechanism?Oceanic gyres act as natural collection points for floating marine debris
2. What is the future projection?Without significant measures, ocean plastic may exceed fish biomass by 2050
3. Why does plastic stay in the ocean for so long?Plastic is made to be very strong and does not break down easily, so it can last hundreds or even thousands of years.
4. How does marine debris hurt sea animals?Animals can get tangled in old nets or swallow plastic, which can hurt or even kill them.

Ocean dumping: The deliberate disposal of waste materials directly into the sea or ocean.
Tidewrack: Debris, often including natural and man-made items, washed ashore by tides.
Microplastics: Tiny plastic particles, less than 5 millimeters in size, resulting from the breakdown of larger items.
Bioaccumulation: The gradual accumulation of substances, such as toxins, in an organism.