The cost of plastic pollution in new york harbor

A dead loon found along a winter beach in New York Harbor, bits of plastic were found in the gizzard. 

"When plastic ingestion occurs, it blocks the digestive tract, gets lodged in animals windpipes cutting airflow causing suffocation, or fills the stomach, resulting in malnutrition, starvation and potentially death. Indeed, it is found that debris often accumulates in the animals’ gut and give a false sense of fullness, causing the animal to stop eating and slowly starve to death.” - from the article, Marine debris threaten to suffocate sea animals

At an unsettling time when science is threatened by the Trump Administration, there is no better time to launch baykeeperplasticstory.org, our new website that provides you the facts and science of plastic pollution and ways you can help!


An alarming 165 million plastic pieces are floating in the NY-NJ Harbor, based on our research, and more than 663 species are impacted by plastic pollution, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). You'll find the website uses animation and photography to explore this serious threat to our waters and the ecosystems that depend on them.

You can help reduce and prevent plastic pollution from entering local waterways by replacing single-use plastics (bags, bottles straws, utensils) with sustainable, reusable materials.

As for us, we'll continue working with federal, state and local partners and you to fight for clean, healthy waterways for all to enjoy.

Explore the story at baykeeperplasticstory.org for more ways to help and to join the conversation!
​
Thank you for all that you do for clean, healthy water!
- NY/NJ Baykeeper ​