Opinion: Finding sanctuary: Plastics threaten the marine sanctuary
Nine atmospheric rivers hit California from Dec. 27 to Jan. 16, with an average of 12 inches of rainfall, including nearly 40 inches in Santa Cruz. Almost half of the rainfall on the Central Coast entered Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) through rivers and streams, carrying with it millions of tons of natural and human-made debris. Human debris comes in many forms, much of it consisting of lightweight and mass-produced plastic products used by Californians every day…. Aside from the eyesore marine debris evokes, plastics may have acute and chronic effects on the marine ecosystem and its inhabitants.
- Written by Lisa Wooninck, superintendent of NOAA’s Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.