project aware marine debris facts mermaids dive center pattaya

Splash for Trash - September 15th 2007 (and any other day you can ...)

Join us 15th September 2007 - contact for details (monthly clean ups made)

Mermaids Dive Center - Project AWARE - Environmentally AWARE

Since Steve Blumenthal began Mermaids scuba diving centre in Pattaya Thailand he has been aware of the need to preserve the environment. We're lucky enough to have many pro-active environmentalists in the Chonburi area that assist with keeping things in order and progress for more to be done. Project Aware - Marine Environment Projects

All of us can do our bit and more - if a diver or not. As divers here at Mermaids we like to make 1 - 2 beach or coral reef cleanups on a monthly basis. As non-divers being aware of the impacts that you make is a good way to understand and make things easier for the marine environment. please see below a few startling marine debris facts.

Marine Debris Facts

Humans generate waste faster than it can be broken down and use up resources faster than they can be replaced.
Nearly 90 percent of all marine debris is plastic. To date, plastic outweighs zooplankton 6:1
An estimated 46,000 pieces of plastic litter alone are floating on every square mile of ocean – 70 percent of which will eventually sink.
Plastics do not biodegrade. When plastic debris meets water it remains for centuries – breaking down slowly into smaller fragments and finally into plastic dust.
Aluminum cans take up to 100 years to degrade and 6-pack holder rings 450 years.
It takes glass bottles one million years to biodegrade in the natural environments.
Entanglement and ingestion of fishing line, nets, rope and other debris has been reported in more than 260 animal species worldwide.
Nearly 300 species of defenseless wildlife suffers unnecessarily due to dangerous debris.
More than 1 million seabirds are killed by aquatic litter each year.
An estimated 100,000 marine mammals including dolphins, whales, seals and sea turtles choke or get tangled in debris every year. 86 percent of all sea turtles are affected by marine debris.

Keep Waters Debris Free

Buy in bulk, re-use as often as possible and always recycle.
Always take reusable bags with you when shopping.
Avoid buying plastic or Styrofoam products whenever possible.
Be aware of everything you buy and avoid products with excessive packaging.
Demand more and improved recycling facilities for your area.
Properly dispose of all pieces of fishing line, net or other associated litter.
Keep plastics and other litter off the ground and the ocean floor
.Keep storm drains and shorelines free of plastic and other debris.
Remove debris you see during every recreational dive or shoreline visit.
Get involved. Participate in local shoreline clean ups and underwater cleanups with Project AWARE. -visit Project AWARE to find out more.

Did You Know?

Every year an estimated 7 billion tonnes of rubbish enters the world’s oceans. In 2006 more than 300,000 volunteers helped clean up our marine environment. 7,315 divers removed 103 tonnes of debris from 3,105 miles of riverbed and seafloor – an average of 14 kilos per diver. Volunteers collected 690,000 bags and 65,000 balloons from aquatic environments. Mermaids Dive Center in Pattaya Thailand contributed assisting in this and shall continue to do so as long as in existence as an active diver center.

Contact Mermaids Dive Center NOW

Updated (21:00 Thai Time) 21st December 2011

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