 OCEAN CITY, Md.- Crab pots, chairs, wooden beams. Things that should not be laying around along bays.
But those were exactly what people found during the inaugural Marine Debris Plunder. The first three groups came in with over 1300 pounds of debris that were filling up the disposal container.
Volunteers, which included the Theta Chi fraternity from Salisbury University, were happy to assist in the clean-up.
"We have been working with Sandi for four years now and she is really big," Theta Chi President Jacob Carr said. "She is always giving us assignments. Usually we will be on 90th street cleaning up or walking along the beach and cleaning up. Today we had boaters bring us stuff like this."
The most sought out debris that the Maryland Coastal Bays Program was looking for were abandoned crab pots. They become abandoned due to boaters running over them when not paying attention. Outreach/Marketing Coordinator Sandi Smith says the cages have the ability to trap and kill any marine life that fits inside.
"In particular, we are looking for bay garbage," Smith said. "These ghost pots, once they cut lose they keep killing. What attracts a ghost pot is crabs and terrapins and other marine species."
Ocean City Surf Club Environmental Chair Effie Cox expanded on the many effects debris poses to a beach or marine life.
"We have seen sea turtles and seagulls that have had trash around them," Cox said. "A lot of stuff we are seeing comes from the Assateague where it was caught on the beach washed down and comes back up."
The program hopes to host the event year round as there is a great need to keep the beaches well-maintained and marine life safe.
