Citizen-Based Litter and Marine Debris Data Collection and Mapping

Abstract

Marine debris and plastic in our oceans is a global issue of increasing concern. However, the monitoring of litter and debris is challenging at the global scale because of disconnected local organizations and the use of paper and pen for documentation. The Marine Debris Tracker mobile app and citizen science program allow for the collection of global standardized data at a scale, speed, and efficiency that wasn't previously possible. The app also serves as an outreach and education tool, with a Web portal that instantly shows the data that users have logged. User engagement through a top tracker competition and social media keeps people interested in the Marine Debris Tracker community. More than 400,000 items have been tracked, with plastic being the most common category noted; maps provide both global and local distribution of data. The Marine Debris Tracker community and dataset continue to grow daily.