My Year with the Marine Debris Program

By Kathryn Brooks

I came to CCS in January to be the new “Marine Debris & Plastics Research and Outreach Assistant” for Laura and her program. My position was funded by multiple grants and would end in December. Well, somehow the year has flown by and it is now December. It was truly a memorable year.

I remember my first cleanup was for Martin Luther King Jr. day in January. It was cold and very windy, but we had a good group of people go out and brave the elements. We brought the debris back to the office and did a “trash tally”, which I would become very familiar with as the year progressed. That day though, the volunteers were teaching me all about the different types of debris, and as a newcomer, they were very welcoming towards me.

The Ghost Gear project was our main project in the spring. I went out with local lobstermen from Provincetown and Sandwich to grapple for ghost gear and document the trap conditions and trapped sea creatures. The first time I went out it was a breeze. We were off of Long Point in Provincetown and the weather was cold, but calm, and traps were coming up left and right! On another occasion, when I went out on a boat from Sandwich, it was a little wavy and I got seasick. I am a true sea-woman now! Looking down to write really got to me, but it was all part of the experience.

The summer months are typically the off season for beach cleanups, but I wanted to change that, so I created a new cleanup program called the “Early Bird” cleanups. It was a trial-and-error type of situation, adjusting start times and promotional tactics as the summer progressed. I don’t think I ever found the sweet spot, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. I was able to engage a handful of new volunteers and clean 6 new locations from Plymouth to Hyannis. It was so awesome to meet new people who wanted to get involved and make a difference in their community! I also did a social media campaign on our Instagram called “Plastic Free July” where I promoted daily alternatives to single use plastics.

Another fond memory was from the Nauset SUNBURST Summer Camp during where I talked to middle schoolers about beach debris and cleanups. I gave a presentation about the work the Marine Debris Program does and then simulated a trash tally to get them involved. They asked good questions, seemed curious, and I think they learned something new! I really enjoy working with kids, so this was a really fun thing to do.

My top three cleanups were the Plover Pickup, Earth Day cleanup at Wood End, and the Outer Cape Cleanup. The Plover Pickup was my first solo cleanup! The Beach Brigade cleaned the beach/plover habitat while the Town of Barnstable employees put up the plover fencing. Earth Day was a beach cleanup adventure, walking across the breakwater to get to all of the debris at Wood End. Part 2 of this cleanup included National Park Service staff, a few pickup trucks, and dedicated Beach Brigaders who went out to load and haul away the caches of debris that were piled up on Earth Day. It was a unique, fun, and very successful project. The Outer Cape Cleanup may have been the biggest adventure of all since it was a multiday effort! You really get to know people better since there is so much time to talk, and I really enjoyed that! Each day was long and exhausting, but knowing we removed all of the debris was really rewarding. I was able to participate in ¾ of the days, so I can say I have walked most of the Outer Cape!

It has been a pleasure working for Laura this year, and I will miss working for the Marine Debris and Plastics Program. I know she has big plans on the horizon, and I wish her and the program all the best!