During our time in Belize, each of us selected a research project to conduct. I participated in the wrack line analysis project, which involved studying the high tide mark where significant amounts of debris accumulate. Many beaches in Belize are littered with single-use plastic and Styrofoam items. In 2022, Belize implemented a single-use plastic ban to combat ocean pollution; however, much of the trash still washes up from neighboring countries.
In our project, we sampled nine square meters at a time, conducting several data collection sessions daily. We recorded the size, color, and material of the pollution. Overall, we sampled 82 plots and removed thousands of pieces of trash. Our findings revealed that white Styrofoam was the most prevalent pollutant on Belize’s wrack lines, followed by various types of plastics. Some of the items that we found included plastic bottles, shoes, personal hygiene products, medicine bottles, and even children’s toys.
In several areas, the trash was so abundant that the sand was not visible. This was especially devastating seeing as Belize is home to the second largest barrier reef. This extensive pollution severely impacts the health of the local biodiversity. Despite Belize’s efforts to mitigate this issue with plastic bans, it remains insufficient. Many locals expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of these bans, particularly since much of the trash originates from other countries.
This study was very impactful for me, as it was my first encounter with ocean pollution on such a large scale. After snorkeling in beautiful reefs daily, it was heartbreaking to see the pollution that ends up on the shores. It is imperative that we, as a global community, work together to address this problem and preserve our marine ecosystems.
