Marine debris removal: One year of effort by the Georgia Sea Turtle-Center-Marine Debris Initiative

- Marine debris citizen science is effective at engaging volunteers in removal.
- 88.6% of debris removed was plastic mainly fragments and cigarette materials.
- Cigarette plastics composed 27.7% of the plastics debris removed by the GSTC-MDI.
- 231 Volunteers donated 461 h to the GSTC-MDI program during the first year.

Once in the marine environment, debris poses a significant threat to marine life that can be prevented through the help of citizen science. Marine debris is any manufactured item that enters the ocean regardless of source, commonly plastics, metal, wood, glass, foam, cloth, or rubber. Citizen science is an effective way to engage volunteers in conservation initiatives and provide education and skill development. The Georgia Sea Turtle Center Marine Debris Initiative (GSTC-MDI) is a grant funded program developed to engage citizens in the removal of marine debris from the beaches of Jekyll Island, GA, USA and the surrounding areas. During the first year of effort, more than 200 volunteers donated over 460 h of service to the removal of marine debris. Of the debris removed, approximately 89% were plastics, with a significant portion being cigarette materials. Given the successful first year, the GSTC-MDI was funded again for a second year.