Baseline Marine Debris Data (2015-2023) - Proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary

This dataset is synthesized coastline marine debris data from three existing sources and primary collected data. It covers the Central California region from Cambria to Naples for the years 2015-2023. This file contains 40 marine debris item type categories, 6 marine debris material type categories (plastic, glass, metal, cloth, paper and wood, mixed), and 7 marine debris source activity categories (personal hygiene, recreation, smoking, eating and drinking, fishing, dumping, and various). This data set is part of the broader research project conducted by students at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management. See the research project's abstract for more information: 

California is both a major source of anthropogenic marine debris and an area particularly vulnerable to its damaging impacts. However, little is known about the quantities and impacts of marine debris in the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (CHNMS) along the central coast of California. This project, conducted by graduate students through the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara, creates a baseline assessment of marine debris in the proposed CHNMS. It aims to inform the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Sanctuaries West Coast Regional Office, along with sanctuary management partners and local communities, about local marine debris and potential management measures. Existing community science beach cleanup data and primary collected data were analyzed to understand spatial patterns in quantities and types of marine debris. We found that plastic debris is the most common material type; areas with the greatest debris densities are likely the Morro Bay, Avila Beach, Five Cities, and Gaviota Coast areas. Smoking, eating, and drinking are major activities that contribute to coastal debris in this region. Alongside this quantitative analysis, analyses of policies and interviews with agencies, local organizations, research institutes, and Indigenous communities revealed that current policies may not be effective at reducing marine debris, despite strong concern for marine debris and its impacts on the coastal environment in this region. Based on these findings, we recommend streamlining debris collection protocols with standardized debris categories and effort metrics, implementing innovative policies to reduce marine debris sources, ensuring co-stewardship of the CHNMS to include and prioritize Indigenous perspectives, and conducting additional research on marine and land-based sources of debris. These recommendations will enhance monitoring and mitigation of marine debris in the CHNMS.

本数据集为合成海岸线海洋垃圾数据，整合自三类现有公开数据源与一手实地采集数据。数据集覆盖2015至2023年加州中部区域，范围从坎布里亚（Cambria）至那不勒斯（Naples）。本文件包含40类海洋垃圾物品类别、6类海洋垃圾材质类别（塑料、玻璃、金属、织物、纸张与木材、混合材质），以及7类海洋垃圾来源活动类别（个人卫生、休闲娱乐、吸烟、饮食、渔业、倾倒行为及其他）。本数据集属于加州大学圣巴巴拉分校布伦环境科学与管理学院（Bren School of Environmental Science & Management）学生开展的大型研究项目的一部分。如需了解更多信息，请参阅该研究项目的摘要：

加州既是人为源海洋垃圾（anthropogenic marine debris）的主要排放地，也是受其破坏性影响尤为脆弱的区域。然而，针对加州中部海岸拟建的丘马什遗产国家海洋保护区（Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, CHNMS）内的海洋垃圾数量与影响，目前相关研究仍较为匮乏。本项目由加州大学圣巴巴拉分校布伦环境科学与管理学院的研究生牵头开展，旨在对拟建CHNMS内的海洋垃圾开展基线评估。本项目旨在为美国国家海洋和大气管理局（National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA）西海岸保护区区域办公室、保护区管理合作方及当地社区提供本地海洋垃圾现状与潜在管理措施的相关参考。

研究团队通过分析现有公民科学海滩清理数据与一手采集数据，解析海洋垃圾的数量与类型的空间分布特征。研究发现，塑料垃圾为最主要的垃圾材质类型；垃圾密度最高的区域大概率为莫罗湾、阿维拉海滩、五城镇及加维奥塔海岸区域。吸烟、饮食行为是该区域海岸垃圾的主要贡献活动。除上述定量分析外，研究团队还通过政策分析以及对相关机构、地方组织、研究机构与原住民社区的访谈发现，尽管本区域对海洋垃圾及其对海岸环境的影响存在高度关切，但现有政策在减少海洋垃圾方面或未达到预期效果。

基于上述研究发现，我们建议：统一海洋垃圾分类与调查努力度指标，优化垃圾收集流程；出台创新性政策以减少海洋垃圾的源头排放；确保CHNMS实行共同管护，纳入并优先考虑原住民视角；以及针对海洋与陆地来源的垃圾开展更多研究。上述建议将有助于加强CHNMS内海洋垃圾的监测与减缓措施。