As the boating season kicks off in many parts of the country, dealers should remind customers about plastic waste in our waterways. Meanwhile, boaters in the Windy City may encounter a recently discovered beast in the Chicago River.
An estimated 8 million tons of plastic is dumped into our oceans annually, threatening the health of fish, birds, marine mammals and other sea life. And in the Great Lakes, which hold 20% of the world’s fresh water and provide drinking water for millions of people, plastics, microplastics and nano plastics are now abundant.
Having boated on Lake Erie for 40 years, I take note of reports on the impact of plastics. The lake reportedly has as much plastic as the huge garbage patches in the oceans, according to the Lake Erie Foundation. It comes, in part, from everyday household products, such as packaging, bottles, straws, tableware and more.
The plastics break down into microplastics and, eventually, nano plastics, which are almost impossible to filter and can create a variety of health problems, as well as disrupt the natural food webs and the reproductive capabilities of fish.
The Lake Erie Foundation has made plastic pollution a major focus by urging boaters and the general public to become aware and take actions that can help reduce the problem. (Full disclosure: I’m an LEF member.)
It’s simple for dealers to alert customers to actions they can take to reduce the influx of plastics. Some of your homework is already done if you follow LEF and the Ohio State University Sea Grant’s recommendations:
• Use reusable containers to store food and beverages.
• Bring drinking water in reusable bottles or jugs, rather than disposable plastic bottles.
• Recycle used bottles and cans.
• Secure trash bags on board and dispose of refuse properly on shore.
• Never dump anything overboard.
• Pick up any trash you see and dispose of it.
• Make sure fishing lures are secured, and avoid cutting lines unless necessary. Store used fishing line in a container.
• Don’t throw cigarette butts overboard.
Click here for more suggestions from LEF and Sea Grant.
A Chonkasaurus Sighting
In a good sign that waterways are getting cleaner, at least around the Windy City, the local ABC affiliate recently reported on a giant snapping turtle seen sunbathing near Goose Island in the North Branch of the Chicago River.
Joey Santore, a naturalist with the website/blog Crime Pays but Botany Doesn’t, posted video of the snapper and it made an online star that’s been dubbed Chonkasaurus.
“Great to see this beast thriving here on what was once such a toxic river but is slowly getting cleaned up and restored,” Santore said. “Somebody planted a bunch of native plants up the river from here, too. I can only wonder what this thing’s been eating.”
Santore estimated the snapping turtle, believed to be a female, weighs at least 60 pounds and is 40 to 50 years old.
